Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

2009 Jack Fleischer

Jack Fleischer has journeyed through numerous stylistic phases in over 40 years as an artist and educator, with countless commissioned works and inclusions in a Smithsonian exhibition. He graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education. He went on to establish and lead a new art department for Central High School in Paddock Lake. He has participated and judged many local shows, teaches adult classes at Central High School and at the Kenosha Public Museum. Most recognized for his aviation paintings that were featured in a solo exhibition at the Experimental Aviation Association and at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in 1983, he was listed in "Who's Who in American Art" in 1996. Retired now, he plans to continue painting and serve as a volunteer for area museums.

2008 Gary Groenke

Gary Groenke has been involved in the arts for almost his entire life. At his high school in 1970, he was named "Most Outstanding Student in the Arts." He was chairperson of the Greater Kenosha Arts Council for ten years, served as first Chairperson for Anderson Arts Council. He has also served on the Board of the Kenosha Symphony, Racine's Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and President of the Racine Advertising Club. He is currently serving on the Board of Hawthorn Hollow/Hyslop Foundation Board and President of the Kemper Foundation Board. For the last 24 years, Groenke has been President of Design Partners, Inc., a full service design firm in Racine, WI. He and his firm have offered free help with the visual communications/marketing needs of numerous arts and non-profit organizations in the Kenosha/Racine area including: St. Joseph's High School, the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Kenosha Arts Council, Kemper Center, the Anderson Arts Center, the Racine Zoo, the Racine Historical Museum, Downtown Racine Corporation, Racine Youth Sports and many more. For more information about Gary Groenke and his dedication and work in the arts, biographies are printed and can be picked up at Anderson Arts Center.

2007 Ralph Houghton

Ralph Houghton may be best known for his development of the K-12 Instrumental and Choral programs in Kenosha Unified Schools, combined with supportive parent Booster programs which continue to operate. His successes are envied by educators throughout the country. As his nomination papers state, “Ralph’s vision, influence and vitality have inspired many to do their best… in fact, to go beyond what they thought was their best… by always raising the bar.”

2006 Peggy Bozon

Peggy Bozon began her love affair with drawing prior to Kindergarten and it is still in full bloom. Since that time, she has spent most of her life either creating or teaching two and three-dimensional art. Her work is always on display or entered in juried shows. She often mentors disadvantaged children. Peggy served as President of the Kenosha Art Association and was granted lifetime membership for outstanding service. She was a very active member in the Greater Kenosha Arts Council which offered fine arts scholarships. Peggy had an innovative idea of taking art to the community by hanging the work of aspiring artists in local professional businesses and restaurants in Kenosha and surrounding communities. This program entitled, “Artreach” began 45 years ago is still working successfully. She won her first national award for a drawing when she was 12. She has since received many awards including the Western Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs for community service. This remarkable woman and her spirit of community service through the arts is a Kenosha treasure.

2005 Carol Mongreig

Carol Mongreig has been sharing her spontaneous creative energy ever since she was a little girl. Born in Milwaukee, she spent her youth with paper and pencil in hand, sketching the day’s events. Later, she volunteered extensively teaching art as a form of occupational therapy to patients at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and painting to the children at the Milwaukee County Orphanage. Her love of art and her devotion to volunteerism led her to a degree in Art and Art Education with a minor in Sociology from Milwaukee State Teachers College. After graduating, she began her career as an elementary school art teacher and also became a dedicated wife and mother. Carol has spent the last 12 years tirelessly devoting herself to Kemper Center and the Anderson Arts Center. She has created, most notably, the Student Art Gallery, where children from private and public schools in the county are given the opportunity to have their artwork exhibited in a professional setting. The countless hours she has given to the Anderson Arts Center and to the betterment of Kenosha has helped this city to realize its potential as a leading center of art and culture in Southeast Wisconsin. She still volunteers at the Anderson Arts Center and is a valuable member of the Anderson Arts Center Council.

2004 George Pollard

George Pollard is very well known and one of Kenosha’s greatest contributor’s to art. George attended the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee for 2 years and then the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for 2 years. He then went to Chicago to study under Frederick Mizen, then the dean of American portrait artists and illustrators. When World War II began, George left the Mizen Academy to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served 39 months in the South Pacific as a combat artist and as a platoon sergeant. He was ordered to do a portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt who was touring the South Pacific for the Red Cross. He was then sent to Brisbane, Australia to paint the great General Douglas MacArthur, and so began his portrait career. He moved to Kenosha in 1947 after he married Nan, also an artist. The Samuel Lowe Publishing Company hired the Pollards to work on celebrity doll books. He later moved on to Presidential portraits for Eisenhower, Truman, Kennedy and Reagan; as well as, Supreme Court Justices, Senators, Congressman, Generals and Governors. Pollard has been a staff artist for the Milwaukee Bucks for 25 years and has painted hundreds of outstanding athletes and entertainment personalities such as Ray Charles and Muhammad Ali. A highlight of his career included painting the portrait of Pope John Paul II. He has also contributed to Anderson Arts Center by painting all the portraits of the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. They can be seen along the staircase at the Anderson Arts Center.

2003 Florence Parry Heide

As a nationally known author of dozens of children’s books, Florence Parry Heide has stimulated the imaginations of children and adults all around the country. Her books range from juvenile mysteries to a child’s view of daily life in the Middle East. Her books have won numerous national and regional awards and a number are on the American Library Association’s notable books list. One of her books, “The Shrinking Treehorn” was named one of the 100 Best Children’s Books of the 20th Century. A film based on her book, “Sound of Sunshine, Sound of Rain” was nominated for an Academy Award. The trustees of Carthage College recognized Mrs. Heide’s accomplishments when they awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1979.

2002 Virginia Tatman

Virginia Tatman is the first recipient of the Anderson Arts Center Lifetime Achievement Award. From the time Virginia could hold a pencil, she was constantly drawing. Her favorite classes during early school years were drawing classes. Eventually, she earned Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in Art Instruction. Virginia was fortunate to have art positions in the same location as her husband. She took time off during the growing years of her family of four children. Returning to art instruction, she became the Curator of Education at the Kenosha Public Museum. She later taught arts and crafts to severly disabled adults on a one-to-once basis for the State of Wisconsin. Because of kidney failure, Virginia received weekly dialysis treatments. Being homebound, she was resolved to pursue the love of her life - producing unique works of art.