Aug. 8, 1959. About the middle of her final semester, Marlene signed a contract to teach in Whiting/Stevens Point upon graduation in June. She was forced to terminate the contract when she found out she was pregnant. The school system did not allow a pregnant woman to teach at that time. How things have changed. Marlene and Dick, and their four children, Kurt, Dan, Kathy and Jodi, moved to Eau Claire in 1972, where Marlene continued to be a full-time mom. She did find time to get involved in several community groups including Trinity Lutheran Church, PEO, the University Book Group, and UW-Eau Claire Foundation. One group in which Marlene was particularly passionate was the University’s Single Parent Scholarship Fund which she helped start. What she liked most about this fund, was that it helped women with children and very few resources, obtain a college education. It was most fitting that when Marlene passed away in 2009 after a long siege with liver cancer, friends began a new Single Parent Fund at UWEC in her honor. The fund was named “The Heroes Fund” in which Marlene was to be the FIRST Hero, with others being named and added in the future. Everyone has a hero, and Marlene has been a hero to her family and friends, for SURE! NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL BOB TAYLOR SCHOLARSHIPS Northwestern Mutual has a long history of tradition and in keeping with that tradition established the Northwestern Mutual – Bob ‘Rap’ Taylor Scholarship in 2010 to not only support higher education of others but to honor Robert T. Taylor who served as a managing director for the Stevens Point area from 1974-2008. During his 34 years as managing director, Bob not only grew his personal practice in the financial services industry by qualifying for Million Dollar Roundtable every year but also took time from his practice to mentor 58 college interns while raising his family in Stevens Point. Bob’s commitment to grow young professionals resulted in several interns becoming some of the most productive in the company, and while some interns moved on to other successful careers, they’ve continually thanked Bob for having spent his time providing guidance during their time at Northwestern Mutual. Bob’s values, passion for learning, and endless pursuit of excellence exemplified during his tenure as managing director is what makes every person in their community hopeful that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Although Bob has stepped down from the managing director role, he continues to work with his clientele, and along with his wife Mary, continue to support the Stevens Point community.
17
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog