Bill Walters endows $189,000 in scholarships

For four decades the late Bill Walters covered the dairy industry in northeast Wisconsin as a radio personality for WCUB radio based in Manitowoc. At the station, he served as chief announcer, program director, and later as farm director until his retirement in 1992. The man known to his radio audience as Bill Walters was first known to his family as Bill Zummach. In either case, Bill was a big man with a soft heart.

While he covered every area of news during his 40-year career at WCUB, Bill’s passion was interviewing the area’s dairy farm families who were the backbone of the industry, as Bill would tell his listeners as he relayed industry matters in a fashion that all listeners could understand. Bill firmly believed these farm families instilled the best life values into young people. And in Bill’s mind there was no better place to raise children. With that in mind, Bill left a major gift from his estate to the Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative and to their families, in particular their sons and daughters, to further their education. It was Bill’s hope that they, too, would return to the family farm or take up a career in the industry and continue to build strong families and businesses in the area.

The man with a commanding radio voice used action instead of his distinctive voice to put his thoughts into motion with the kindest of gifts when he left a $189,000 contribution to the Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative of Manitowoc, Wis. That money is available to children from the cooperative’s 2,890 farm families. In order to fully utilize Bill’s generous donation, the Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative entered into partnership with another well-known dairy organization — the National Dairy Shrine. The 60-year-old National Dairy Shrine which awards over $30,000 annually to dairy youth will manage the Bill Walters Scholarship for the Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative. Through sound investments, the organization hopes to grow the fund so dairy youth may receive the Walters Scholarship for many generations.

This year, the first six Walter scholars each received a $1,500 award. Those winners include: Stephanie Geiger, Brillion, Wis., Curtis Horsens, Gillett, Wis., Adam Kolb, Kiel, Wis., Ramamda Maves, Amherst, Wis., Tony Meyer, Colby, Wis., and Stephanie Nagel, Valders, Wis.

Maurice Core Fund to be established

National Dairy Shrine has a long and storied 60-year history of awarding scholarships to young people. Last year alone, over $30,000 in awards was given to America’s dairy youth. In order to honor more deserving young people, the National Dairy Shrine is establishing a fund to permanently honor the distinguished career of Maurice Core, the former executive secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Association and recently retired executive director of National Dairy Shrine. As a testament to Core’s accomplishments, he was just selected as the 2009 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year. The Maurice Core Scholarship will be awarded to college freshman who are majoring in dairy science or animal science related fields with long-term interests in working in the dairy industry. This scholarship will be based on leadership abilities, volunteer work, activities, and future plans.

Last fall, National Dairy Shrine Board authorized the Maurice Core fund to be established with a fund-raising goal of $50,000. National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce that we have met 60 percent of our targeted goal but still need help from other dairy industry enthusiasts to reach the fund-raising goal. Initial response has been so generous, National Dairy Shrine will offer the first Core Scholarship this year.

Those interested in making a donation to the Maurice E. Core Scholarship Fund may send it to National Dairy Shrine, Dr. David Selner, Executive Director, P.O. Box 1, Maribel, WI 54227 or call (920) 863-6333 or e-mail info@dairyshrine.org.

Since National Dairy Shrine is a 501-3C education-based charity, all donations are tax deductible, and your donation will be recognized via letter. Additionally, your contribution will be recognized in National Dairy Shrine’s newsletter The Chronicle. During Maurice Core’s tenure as National Dairy Shrine’s executive director, he most graciously and effectively guided National Dairy Shrine to accomplish the organization’s mission of: (1.) Recording dairy history, (2.) Inspiring future dairy leaders, (3.) Honoring top dairy cattle breeders and pioneers, and (4.) Honoring present dairy pioneers.