Inducted in 2018

Atassi, a 1982 graduate, was a three-sport athlete, earning Most Valuable Player honors for the 1981 soccer team, academic all-state honors in basketball his senior year and a state runner-up finish in doubles tennis in 1981. He graduated from Duke University and earned his MD from Loyola of Chicago. Atassi has been active in the community, serving on several boards, including the Theda Clark Center Foundation and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Inducted in 2015

Bergstrom, an 1892 graduate, was the Chief Architect for the Pentagon Building in 1941. A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University, he was one of the prominent figures in the rapid expansion of Southern California in the early 1900’s. Bergstrom served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture and was President of the Municipal Housing Commission for seven years. Bergstrom died in California in 1955 at the age of 79.

Inducted in 2016

Berven coached his 50th season of boys tennis at Neenah High School in 2016, including his 46th as head coach. He has led the Rockets to five WIAA state championships and six state runner-up finishes along with 39 conference championships, while posting a 436-49-1 career record. A Luther College graduate and Austin, Minn. native, Berven taught high school social studies from 1964-97 and also coached junior varsity basketball for 16 seasons. He has directed the Neenah Park and Recreation summer tennis program for the past 49 years and is a member of the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Association and Fox Valley Tennis Association Halls of Fame.

Inducted in 2015

Braun, who taught math and science from 1946-74, began the Neenah High School baseball program and Neenah’s summer youth baseball program. He is a member of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Braun played collegiately at UW-River Falls and also coached football at Neenah. He was described by former students as being “tough” and “compassionate.” Braun lived in Neenah until his death in 2013 at the age of 101.

Inducted in 2015

Cheng, a 1979 graduate, worked as a neurosurgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh. A graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin, she donated $2.5 million to her former employer to create an endowment for Medical Excellence and Compassion to improve the hospital’s neurosurgery program and create a medical mission outreach program for needy individuals in and out of the local area. The gift was the largest in the hospital’s history. She resides in Oshkosh.

Inducted in 2017

Dunwiddie taught social studies at Neenah High School from 1948-83 and was well-known for his community involvement and dedication to the environment. The 1963 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year and runner-up for National Teacher of the Year, Dunwiddie was a member of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Social Studies Curriculum Committee for 20 years. He served on the City of Neenah Park and Recreation Commission from 1964-94 and spent eight years on the Planning Commission. He authored a book, “The Parks on Neenah,” in 1993. A Port Washington native, Dunwiddie attended the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the marching band upon graduation in 1942. He died in 2014 in Bozeman, Mont. at age 94.

Inducted in 2015

Coenen, a 1981 graduate, was a three-time Olympian as a goalie in Team Handball. She starred collegiately at the University of Minnesota and was the Big Ten’s first women’s basketball Player of the Year in 1983. Coenen was the first Minnesota player to have her number retired by the school and was a first-team All-American in 1985. She ranks second in Neenah basketball history in career scoring with 1,036 points and helped the Rockets to a WIAA state runner-up finish in 1981 as a two-time Fox Valley Association Player of the Year. Coenen lives in Manitou Springs, Colo. and is an events manager for USA Cycling.

Inducted in 2015

Einerson, who taught social studies and coached boys basketball in Neenah from 1968-93, still ranks seventh in state history in career victories with his 556-235 career record. He led the Rockets to WIAA state titles in 1975 and 1978 and four state runner-up finishes. Einerson guided the Rockets to the state tournament 10 times and won 12 conference championships. He played collegiately at UW-Platteville and served in the U.S. Army for 17 months in Korea. Einerson was president of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and is in organization’s Hall of Fame. The fieldhouse at Neenah High School has been named in his honor. He still resides in Neenah and regularly attends high school events.

Inducted in 2017

Hagerstrom still ranks as Neenah’s all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball with 1,219 points. She led the Rockets to the 1978 WIAA state championship and was the state Player of the Year and a Parade All-American. Hagerstrom, who also played volleyball at Neenah, attended the University of Nebraska and graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,778 points (currently ranks 10th all-time). She was the head women’s basketball coach for 18 years at Wellesley College (Mass.) and owns a school-record 229 career wins before stepping down to become the school’s Assistant Director of Operations. She resides in Wayland, Mass.

Inducted in 2016

Hsu, a 1993 graduate, is an endowed professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a spine surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Hsu has conducted extensive research on regenerative technologies in orthopaedic surgery and neck, spine and back injuries in athletes. He participated in soccer, tennis, orchestra, debate and musicals in high school. Hsu earned a degree in music performance (violin) from UW-Madison and an M.D. from Vanderbilt University before completing his residency at UCLA Medical Center. He currently resides in Glenview, Ill.

Inducted in 2018

Jaeck, an 1892 graduate, was a teacher, professor, published author, poet and songwriter. She was active in the women’s suffrage movement and earned degrees from UW-Oshkosh and UW-Madison and a doctorate from the University of Illinois. Jaeck studied Christmas customs from throughout the world and lectured on them globally, while writing many poems and articles. She spoke seven languages, taught foreign languages at colleges throughout the U.S. and sailed around the world twice. She died in Omro in 1963.

Inducted in 2016

Jasser, a 1985 graduate, is the founder and president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, which was founded as an effort to provide an American Muslim voice advocating for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States. After attending UW-Milwaukee and Medical College of Wisconsin, he served 11 years as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy and is a past president of the Arizona Medical Association. Jasser, the co-founder of the Muslim reform movement, regularly briefs members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on the threat of political Islam, which is the ideology that fuels radical Islamists. He authored A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriot’s Fight to Save His Faith, and is a regular contributor on national media outlets such as CNN, CBS, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and BBC. In high school, Jasser was editor of the school newspaper and participated in chess, debate, forensics, mock trial, academic decathlon, student congress, tennis and music. He was also president of National Honor Society as a senior. He resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Inducted in 2018

Jorgensen, a 1952 graduate, was a prolific athlete, noted community member and the head referee for the 1990 Super Bowl. The son of legendary Neenah coach Ole Jorgensen, Dick was a state champion in doubles tennis and placed runner-up at state track in the pole vault. He quarterbacked the Neenah football team and helped the basketball team to a state semifinal appearance. He played basketball at UW-Madison and captained the Badgers in 1956. Jorgensen served as an NFL official for 23 years and refereed 12 playoff games and four conference championship games. He served two years in the U.S. Navy and was president of Marine Bank in Champaign, Ill. He died in 1990 and all NFL officials wore a black armband in his honor.

Inducted in 2015

Jorgensen, a 1922 graduate, taught physical education and coached in Neenah for 43 years until his retirement in 1969. Jorgensen was a state high jump champion in high school and also played football and basketball. Jorgensen coached basketball, football and track at Neenah and started the golf and cross country programs as athletic director. He coached the basketball team to 10 state tournament appearances, including the 1930 WIAA state title while posting a 509-258 record in 39 seasons. Jorgensen was president of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and is a member of the organization’s Hall of Fame. He also is on the UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame and the gymnasium at Shattuck Middle School has been named in his honor. He never missed a basketball game or any of his over 3,000 practices as a coach. Jorgensen lived in Neenah and attended school events until his death in 1988 at the age of 84.

Inducted in 2015

James Keating, a 1925 graduate, was a leader at the Neenah Foundry and active in numerous community organizations. While in school, he was captain of the 1925 basketball team that placed fifth at state and also played football. He was president of the District’s Vocational and Adult Education School for 25 years and served as president of the National Foundry Association and president of the National Castings Council. Keating held leadership positions with the Boys and Girls Brigade, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum and Foundry Educational Foundation. He donated the land for Keating Park in the Town of Neenah and his foundation has awarded over $30,000 in scholarships. Keating lived in Neenah until his death in 1991 at the age of 84.

Inducted in 2015

John Keating, a 1926 graduate, was the first Neenah person to receive an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and later served as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. He was the Chief Allied negotiator for the safe passage of 12,000 French civilians who had retreated along with the German army in World War II. He also negotiated and executed a plan of surrender of 60,000 German forces in the Lorient and St. Nazaire pockets, which represented the last Nazi strongholds in France. Keating was a Regimental Commander in Korea and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations. Following a 30-year career, he remained with the military as a consultant until his death in 1970 at the age of 61.

Inducted in 2018

Kelderman has the most wins of any boys soccer coach in Wisconsin high school history, posting 603 wins from 1981 to 2015. Kelderman led the Rockets to three state titles, two state runner-up finishes, 27 FVA titles and a winning record every season. A 2011 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Kelderman coached in more state tournaments than any coach in state history and also coached the Neenah girls team one season, leading them to the state semifinals in 2010. Prior to Neenah he coached seven seasons at Lawrence University and won 672 matches at all levels. He was a co-founder of the Paper Valley Youth Soccer program that is now known as the Neenah Soccer Club. Kelderman still lives in Neenah.

Inducted in 2017

Keller is the chairman of J.J. Keller and Associates, Inc. and also serves as president of the J.J. Keller Foundation, Inc., which has contributed over $50 million to local communities and organizations. Keller began working at the family-owned business at age 12 and earned an economics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He began his career at the Advertising and Marketing Manager and quickly rose to Executive Vice President in 1974 and Chief Executive Officer in 1988. Keller serves on the Board of Directors for numerous local charitable organizations and foundations. He lives in Kaukauna.

Inducted in 2016

Kessler, a 1959 graduate, taught high school physical education from 1969-96. She was a trailblazer for establishing girls athletics programs in Neenah and served as the varsity girls basketball coach from 1971-83 and the girls volleyball coach until 1975. She led the Rockets to the first six WIAA state girls basketball tournaments from 1976-81, including a state championship in 1978 and runner-up finishes in 1976 and 1980. Kessler was a three-time FVA coach of the year and posted a 176-47 career record, earning induction to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. While a student, she was a member of the band and participated in the girls athletic association before attending UW-La Crosse. Kessler still resides in Neenah.

Inducted in 2015

Kreklow, a 1975 graduate, led Neenah to the 1975 WIAA state basketball title while scoring 499 points that season and 926 for his career. He was the state Player of the Year and went on to star at Drake University and win an NBA title with the Boston Celtics. Kreklow was selected to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player and also led the Rockets to the state tournament in 1974. He played volleyball in high school and has been head coach of the women’s volleyball team at the University of Missouri since 2000, leading the Tigers to 10 NCAA tournament appearances. He coached Columbia College to NAIA national titles and undefeated seasons in 1998 and 1999. At Missouri, he earned 2013 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year honors when the team finished 35-1. He resides in Columbia, Mo.

Inducted in 2018

Lieber, a 1974 graduate, was among the first national female sportswriters and earned multiple awards and three Pulitzer Prize nominations. She attended Stanford University and began her career as a columnist and features writer for the Milwaukee Sentinel. She was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated from 1981-95 and was the magazine’s first female NFL writer while also spearheading the investigation into the Pete Rose gambling scandal. From 1995-2008, Steeg was a senior writer at USA Today where she specialized in cover stories and covered most major world sporting events. She now lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. and co-owns Steeg Sports Management and Media Consulting with her husband, Jim, who worked for the NFL and directed the Super Bowl for 26 years.

Inducted in 2017

McLaren was a WIAA state champion in the shot put and an all-conference running back and linebacker on two Neenah playoff football teams, including the 1988 squad that reached the state semifinals. McLaren earned a track and field scholarship to Iowa State University and concluded his career at UW-Oshkosh where he set an NCAA Division III record and won two national titles in the shot put. His shot put throw ranked among the top 50 in the world at one time. McLaren has taught and coached for 20 years at Zion-Benton High School (Ill.) and resides in Antioch, Ill.

Inducted in 2017

Schneller was a member of the Detroit Lions’ 1935 NFL championship team, served as a Navy Lieutenant in World War II and founded a successful company. Schneller starred in football and basketball at Neenah and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but opted to play football instead. Schneller was aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota during the battles for Palau, Leyte, Okinawa and the Japanese mainland. In 1964, Schneller founded Schneller and Associates in Kent, Ohio. The company is still one of the world’s foremost suppliers and designers of aviation and rail car interiors. Schneller died in 1978 in Kent, Ohio at age 67.

Inducted in 2016

Westphal taught science at Neenah High School from 1973-2002. In 2004, she won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Association of Physics Teachers. She served as the advisor for the academic decathlon team for 17 years and advised the science olympiad team for 12 years. Westphal also was an advisor for National Honor Society. She was the first to bring the modeling method of instruction to the Fox Valley and also created the trimester schedule that Neenah used from 1996-2011. A West Bend native, Westphal earned a degree from UW-Madison. She still resides in Neenah.

Inducted in 2015

Whitlinger, a 1972 graduate, was the first person to win four WIAA state individual singles tennis championships and won 109 consecutive matches for the Rockets. A member of Neenah’s “first family” of tennis, he attended Stanford University and won both the NCAA singles and doubles titles in 1974 while leading the Cardinal to the national team title. Whitlinger was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame and Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. He played six years professionally, achieving individual rankings in the top 50 for singles and top 40 for doubles. Whitlinger was the head men’s tennis coach at Stanford for 10 seasons, compiling a 160-85 record and nine NCAA tournament appearances. He was also the associate head coach at Stanford for 18 seasons and part of nine national championship teams. Whitlinger retired in 2014 and lives in Appleton.

Inducted in 2016

Wiesner, a 1957 graduate, was a standout football player at Neenah and went on to captain the University of Wisconsin’s 1960 Rose Bowl team, earning a place in the UW Athletics Hall of Fame. Wiesner played football, basketball and baseball at Neenah and was the Most Valuable Player of the undefeated 1957 football team. He was influential in the growth of Las Vegas, serving as the Director of the Chamber of Commerce while owning seven Wisconsin-themed restaurants and casinos in Las Vegas. Wiesner was Nevada’s state Republican national committeeman in 1986 and served on the University of Nevada Board of Regents. He died from leukemia in 2002 and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas football team annually awards a patch to a senior who characterizes his courage and toughness. A street named Wiesner Way was also dedicated outside the university’s football stadium.

Inducted in 2016

Williams, a 1923 graduate, taught American History and coached football, basketball and tennis at Neenah High School from 1930-70. His greatest success came in tennis where he led the Rockets to four WIAA state titles and four runner-up finishes with a 371-71 career record. Williams took a four-year leave of absence during World War II and enlisted in the Air Force where he researched a six-volume tome on aviation medicine that is still in use. He retired from the reserves in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel. A UW-Madison graduate, he participated in football and track in high school. Williams is a member of the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Association and Fox Valley Tennis Association Halls of Fame. He created Neenah’s Park and Recreation tennis program in 1934 and died in 2002 at the age of 96.