History of the Jade Ring Writing Contest, List of Winners
Desert Jewels 1950 Green Lake, WI JL Kraft read this poem he wrote to Wisconsin Rural Writer Association during his talk about his passion for rock collecting. He later designed the jade ring, the namesake for the writing contest sponsored by Wisconsin Writers Association. Jewels and gems and beautiful stones Are minerals and rocks and dinosaur bones They come from the valley, mountains and streams And the bowels of the earth yield the fire of dreams. They hold you entranced, these wonders of God They are where He placed them in gravel or sod Gems are where you find them – they’re yours for the getting They are where they are, regardless the setting. No combination of color has ever been known To equal the beauty of a colorful stone. The hues of the rainbow, the gold of the sun Are reflected in glory when the cabochon is done. Agate rose of the desert and chalcedony rare In bleak lonely places, why are they there? God scattered His jewels from clouds in the sky That’s why we find them so low and so high. Therefore we should search wherever we are For the jewels of heaven that came from afar He scattered them widely – He tossed them away So people who love them could find them some day. Wisconsin Writers Association Historical Jade Ring Contest, Al P Nelson, Florence Lindemann Competition Known Winners and PlacersThis is a list in progress. If anyone has updates or corrections, please contact us! submit@wiwrite.org 1949 – first year held, over 1,000 entries, with 20 plays; 20 HM in each category 1st, Short Story, Mrs. Bernadette P. Friedl 2nd, Short Story, Mrs. Wilhelmina Guerink 3rd, Short Story, Mrs. Dan Linehan 1st, Poetry, Dr. R.W. Southworth 2nd, Poetry, Inga Gilson Caldwell 3rd, Poetry, Mrs. Louis P. Zimmerman 1st, Play writing, Ruth Westover 2nd, Play writing, Mrs. Zimmerman 3rd, Play writing, Mrs. Ray Gibbons 1950 – over 1,000 entries, 50 plays (none outstanding enough for a first place, however) 3 categories: Short Story, Poetry, Playwrighting Short story 1st – Daniel Kasen, Racine, “Country Style” 2nd – Ruth Westover, Waukau, “Retired Farmer” 3rd, John Cappon, Madison, “Young Stock” HM, Bernice Barney, La Crosse, “Neighbor to the West” HM Doris V. Brecka, Baraboo, “Social at Cedar Hill” HM, Eleanor Knight, Bayfield, “R.E.A. or Bust” HM Agnes O’Connell Landwehr, Fond du Lac, “The Scythe of Time” HM Edna K. Meudt, Dodgeville, “A Man’s Soul is His Fate” HM Marianne O’Neil, Hokah, MN, “The Divided Years” HM Letha P. Parfrey, Richland Center, “The Wedding Dinner” HM Marcella Gill Relyea, Talor, “Veils are for Virgins” HM Laila E. Skagen, Manawa, “Home from Christmas” HM Dr. FW Southworth, Edgerton, “The Mills of God” HM Helen R. Stieve, Baraboo, “Someone for Joel” HM Clara Tutt, Whitewater, “They Crossed a River” HM Wanda Waters, Wauwatosa, “O Vagrant Worm” Poetry, 1950 1st, Inga Gilson Caldwell, Waupaca, “Farm Sequence” 2nd, Anne C. Rose, Gilmanton, “The Lupine” 3rd, Sharon Romero, Janesville, “Pioneer” HM Mrs. RW Berger, Portage, “Farm Home Lights” HM Wilma Black, Columbus, “My Father’s Hand” HM Marie Barlow Buckman, Crivitz, “The Last Pilgrimage HM Frances R. Burt, Albany, “Thoughts in Rhyme” HM Edward Eldridge, Janesville, “Yucca” HM Bernice Corey Ferguson, Park Falls, “I Travel Alone HM Bernadette Friedell, Badger, “The Harmonica Boy” HM Mr. W. Geurink, Ringle, “The Unattainable” HM Sheila Kohlenberg, Milwaukee, “R.B.T., Age Thirty” HM Hazel La Tour, Baraboo, “The Bride Signs Here” HM Mrs. Louis Lindow, Waupaca, “Worship” HM Evelyn McLean, South Byron, “Metamorphosis HM Mrs. Hans Morken, Taylor, “Common Clay HM Faith Oemig, Stanley, “Pine Song” HM Enid Boyer Rogers, Pittsville, “Haunted” HM Dr. FW Southworth, Edgerton, “Roadside Tavern” HM Helen C. Smith, Evansville, “Finality” HM Helen R. Steive, Baraboo, “The ‘New’ Look” HM Nellie R Simak, Bridgeport, “Sage of the Cracker Barrel” 1950 Playwrighting – no first place awarded 2nd, Elizabeth Epstein, Millston, “Time to Retire” 3rd, Frances R. Burt Albany, “Just Desserts” HM Karin Anderson, Phillips, Taken in by a Face” HM Marie Barlow Buckman, Crivitz, “Money for the Fair: HM Rith Bermeister, Reedsburg, “A Square Deal” HM Winnie Gibbons, LaValle, “Garden Variety” HM Mrs. John Kruse, Middleton, “The Quilting Party” HM Isobel OS McIsaac, Rhinelander, “Three Blind Mice” HM Edna Meudt, Dodgeville, “Lucifer Bigwheel” HM Mrs. G. Moore, “Grandpas’ Sweet tooth” HM Mrs. A. Miller, “Project Leaders Nightmare” HM S Miller, “All Suckers Don’t Live in Water” HM E Olson, “The Jeffreys Join PTA HM R Westover, “Sweet Valentine” HM Mrs. LJ Totten, “The Sleet Storm” HM H Stieve, “Man For Miss Marshall” 1951 1st, Mary H. Zimmerman, Whitewater, Playwriting 1st, Anne C. Rose, Gilmanton, Poetry, “The Barn” 1st, Isadore B. Schwartz, Shawano, Short Story, “House; Block 3, Lot 1” 1st, Dorothy F. Douglas, LaValle, Article, “Modern Apartments – On the Farm” 1952 – new rule of only one entry per category cut down entries, but more than 500 new entrants; special merit was awarded for contestants who were eligible due to being a past winner Article 1st, Article, Eva John Kuhn, Whitehall, “Tell Him This For Me” 2nd, Article, Mrs. Floyd Lange, Chippewa Falls, “Fringe Area Farmer” 3rd, Article, Mrs. John Lloyd, Cambria. “The Paul Bunyan Breeze” HM, article, Dorothy Cole Schrader, Evansille, “Are You Missing Fun In Your Own Back Yard?” HM, article, Mrs. Chris Nelson, Evansville, “There Goes Another Pig” HM, article, Mrs. Muriel Worfal, Milton Junction, “We Like Artificial Breeding” Special Mention, Frances Burt, Brodhead, “Exchange House: Third Floor Front Special Mention, Wilma Fritz Black, Columbus, “Make “Make Your Home Say Welcome” Special Mention, Frances Austin, Bloomington, “Another Change Needed” Special Mention Ruth E Brady, Bancroft, “A Thing of the Past, The Hired Man” Special Mention Willard J. Cox, Mineral Point, “We Operate a Beef Farm” Special Mention Adelle Fritz Krebs, Waukesha, “A Tale of the Dunbar Oak” Special Mention Alice Kelly, Rhinelander, “Don’t Sell Those Bacon Drippings Short” Special Mention Frederic Portney, Viroqua, “Improving and modernizing Wisconsin’s Education System” Special Mention “Time Marches On” Mattie Simmons Patterson, Granton Special Mention Mary Allen Rowlands, Cambria, “Like Mother Used to Make? Heaven Forbid” Special Mention, Nan Morken, Taylor “Sister Hobbyists”, Special Merit, Helen C Smith, Evansville, “Farm Credit” Short Story 1st, Edwin M Emmons, Rhinelander, “The Long Shadow” 2nd, Eleanor Knight, Bayfield, “Month of Kindness” 3rd, Edna Meudt, Dodgeville, “The Dream” HM, Fidelia Van Antwerp, Wisconsin dells, “Only the Rich” HM, Rose McCalmont, Janesville, “The Little Glass Man” HM, Helen C Smith, Evansville, “Take to the Hills” SM, Dana Kneeland Akers, Superior, “Jean L Joie—Lumberjack Extraordinaire” SM, Marie Barlow Bucker, Crivitz, “The Windigo Charm” SM, John Flad, Madison, “The Hard Way” SM, Margaret Freer, Oconomowoc, “Return to Tomorrow” SM, Mrs. Marshall Perham, Eleva, “When a farm is Not a farm” SM, KJ Repsold, Phillips, “There is No End” SM, Normal Sainty, Fall creek, “Soldiers All SM, Hedwig Sorenson, Rhinelander, “Design by Hester” SM, Doris B Smith, Fennimore, “Shame on Me!” SM, Mrs. Floyd Lange, Chippewa Falls, “The Offspring” SM, Mary Allen Rowlands, “Mrs. Ballantine and the Robin” SM Olive Glasgow, Crandon, “Pioneer Blood” SM Helga Jackwitz, La Crosse, “Ina Ann McQuade” Playwrighting 1st, Frances R Burt, Brodhead, “Love in Wool” 2nd, Emily Sprague Wurl, Wauwatosa, “This Old Man” 3rd, Burton G. Williams, Watertown, “If She Hadn’t Kicked the Bucket” Tie? Marie Barlow Buckman, Crivitz, “The Day the Gypsies Came” HM, Sylvia Liedtke, Rhinelander, “The Day the Flood Came in Gays Mills” HM, Estella Bryhn, Mindoro, “Just An Old Batch” HM Winnie Crandall Saunders, Janesville, “School is Called” HM, Rose McCalmont, Janesville, “The Elm is Staunch” Special Merit, Betty Lee Epstein, Millston, “For the Love of Lizzie” Poetry 1st, Ruth Moorehouse, Woodruff, “Hemlocks” 2nd, Fidelia Van Antwerp, Wisconsin Dells, “Painted by Ann” 3rd, Vera Springer, Elmwood, “Old Roads are Haunted” HM, Wilma Fritz Black, Columbus, “The River Road” HM, Mrs. Jan O Skagen, Manawa, “Paid in Full” HM, Mildred R Jones, Baraboo, “The Old Pucketechute” HM. Mary Ellen Pourchot, Ripon, “The Seed Snapper” HM, Mrs. Robert Onish, Mukwonago, “Freedom” Special Mention, Marian Paust, Richland Center, “The Meeting Place” Special Mention, Alice Davis, Waukesha, “Wild Geese” Special Mention, Gretta Trainer, Sparta, “Spring Whirl” Special Mention, John A Lonsdorf, Birnamwood, “The Pioneers” Special Mention, Myrta Abbot Lange, Eau Claire, “Memorial Birch: A Legend of the Chippewas” Special Mention, CF Knight, Dalton, “The King of the Northern Slash” Special Mention, Evelyn McLean, South Byron, “My Heart Has Wings” Special Mention, Helen C. Smith, Evansville, “Self-Appraisal” Special Merit, Anne C. Rose, Gilmanton, “My Farmland, In Beauty Arrayed” 1953 2nd, (No 1st place award given), Marie B Buckman, Crivitz, Playwriting, “Princess of the Cornfield” 1st, J. Lee Douglas, Wood, Poetry “The Grand Terminal” 1st, Clara E Berdan, Whitehall Short Story, “A Woman in the House” 1st, Mrs. Hans Morken, Taylor, Article, “When Farmers Retire”
1954 1st, Anne M. Dunst, Milwaukee, Playwriting 1st, Maude Totten, Delavan, Poetry HM, Edna K. Meudt, Dodgeville, Poetry, “Transition” 1sy, Erma Graeber, Rhinelander, Short Story 1st, Mattie S. Patterson, Granton, Article 1st, Norman Sainty, Fall Creek, Nonfiction
1955 1st, Ruth Burmester, Reedsburg, Playwriting 1st, Ethel Case Cook, Eagle River, Poetry, “Tenderly With Words” 3rd, Emily Sprague, Wurl-Wauwatosa, Poetry, “The Old Settler” HM, Theo Marie Ferch, Pelican Lake, Poetry, “Filler?” HM, Frances Crewes, Milwaukee, Poetry, “An Old One’s Prayer” HM, Belle Schacht, West Bend, Poetry, “Leave-Taking” HM, Mary Chambers, Madison, Poetry, “Orison Morale” HM, Vera Springer, Elmwood, Poetry, “The Night Is Like A Cat” HM Bette Chapman Buckley, Waukesha, Poetry, “Rebuttal” 1st, Margaret Freer, Oconomowoc, Short Story 3rd, Marion Kirkland Brown, West Bend, Short Story, “Advertisement” HM, Patt Roberts, Milwaukee, Short Story, “Broken Alibi” HM, Wanda Waters, Wauwatosa, Short Story, “Young and Tender Green” 1st, Nina Adair Schell, Blue River, Article HM, Pat Theisen, Cassville, Article?, “Jamison’s Wonder Museum” HM, Viola M. Stout, Edgerton, Article?, “Albion Academy and the Union League” 1st, Dorothy Carey, Monroe, Essay, “Half Past Five”
1956 1st, Essay, Anne Megna Dunst, Milwaukee, “Bread” 2nd Essay, Alvin M. Peterson, Onalaska, “Music of the Wild” 3rd, Essay, Erva Loomis Merow, Kenosha, “The Singing Teacup” HM, Essay, Helen C. Smith, Evansville, “A Part of the Sea” *judge Professor Clarence A Schoenfeld 1st, Poetry, Marian Pier Paust, Richland Center, “Winter Corn Fields” and “The Passing of the Leaves” 2nd, Poetry, Anne C. Rose, Gilmanton, “Land Measure” 3rd, Poetry, Emily Sprague Wurl, Wauwatosa, “Is This the Same Wind?” HM, Poetry, Dorothy Dalton, Menasha, “A Poem Must Lead You” HM, Poetry, Ruby J Kuenzli, Brooklyn, “His Final Meed” HM, Poetry, Florence McNitt, Fort Atkinson, “Autumn Parade” *judge August Derleth 1st, Playwrighting, Dorothy McCain, Oshkosh, “Installment Dilemma” 2nd, Playwriting, Rose B. McCalmont, Janesville, “But For Delilah” 3rd, Playwrighting, Marie Barlow Buckman, Crivitz, “The Flour Barrel” *judge Julius Landau 1st, Article, Norman Sainty, Eau Claire, “Reverend, Would You?” 2nd, Article, Wanda Waters, Wauwatosa, “Evergreen in Memory” 3rd, Article, Marie Barlow Buckman, Crivitz, “Shrubs for Autumn Beauty” HM, Article, Amy Zehm, Eleva, “Be a School Cook” HM, Article, Pearl Keilman, Baraboo, “The Cake Stand” HM, Article, Mildred Francis, Stevens Point, “Farmers, Spare That Bee” *judge Arthur Broughton 1st, Short Story, Helen C. Smith, Evansville, “Called Back” 2nd, Short Story, Melba Bachr, Eau Claire, “Cherry Red Ribbon” 3rd, Short Story, Mildred Moses, Gays Mills, “The Girl Who Wanted Wings” HM, Short Story, Ruth Christianson, Frederic, “Kimba” HM, Short Story, Frances Goesling, Milwaukee, “Potato Pancakes” HM, Short Story, Dorothy Carey, Green Bay, “The Poor Old Sinner” *judge Edward Harris Heth 1957 1st, Henry C. Spear, Hartford, Playwriting, 1st, Edna K. Meudt, Dodgeville, Poetry, “For Such a Child’s Waiting” 1st, Isadore Brothers Schwartz, Minocqua, Short Story 1st, Alyce Densow, Waukesha, Article 1st, Wilma Fritz Black, Columbus, Nonfiction
1958 1st, Marie B. Mellinger, Ft. Wentworth GA, Playwriting 1st, Mary H. Zimmerman, Milwaukee, Poetry HM, Ruth Morehouse, Woodruff, Poetry, “Natal Day”` HM, Barbara Jurgenson, Scandinavia, Poetry, “To My Three Children, Sleeping” 1st, Roswell B. Rhode, Augusta, Short Story, “Escape to “Grenada” HM, Irene Bowman, Muscatine, IA, Short Story, “The Bobbinet Cap” 1st, Alvin M. Peterson, Onalaska, Article 2nd, Florence Trumpy, Monroe, Article, “Rambling Richland Creek” HM, Margaret Blundell, Shrewsbury, England, Article, Elegy For Johnny Joseph” 1st, Louise Briesemeister, Wash. Island, Creative Nonfiction, “Island “Winds” 2nd, Maxine Dannenbaum, Madison, Creative Nonfiction, “Conversation With Myself” HM, Joyce Edgar, Eau Claire, Creative Nonfiction, “Genesis” HM, Irene Bowman, Muscatine, IA, Creative Nonficion, “Zero in February”
1959 1st, Milt Polsky, Madison, Drama, “Tell Them I Failed” 2nd, Mark Berman, Madison, Drama, “The Holdout” HM,RP Hoare, Shrewsbury, England, Drama, “The Sight of the Blind” HM, Jay A Knaack, Beaver Dam, Drama, “Morning At Kelly’s” HM, Agnes O’Connell Landwehr, Madison, Drama, “The Better the Deed, The Better the Day” *judge Nancy Hoffmann 1st, Marian Paust, Richland Center, Poetry, “There Is Honey to be Savored” 2nd, Alice Davis, West Bend, Poetry, “Wood Fire” HM, Marian Paust, Richland Center, Poetry, “Departure” HM, Ruth Behling, Oconomowoc, Poetry, “Divine Dispensation” HM, Edythe Kazla, Evansville, Poetry, “Night Pasture” HM, Ruth Christianson, Frederic, Poetry, “A Day In A Quiet Wood” HM, Rockwell Schaefer, New York, Poetry, “Escape” HM, Dorothy C. Schrader, Evansville, Poetry, “Winter Cold” HM, Emeline Ennis Kotula, Chicago, Poetry, “And in the Night” *judge Ruth Mary Fox 1st, Marjorie Hill, Madison, Short Story, “I’ll Always Remember—Everything” 2nd, Loretta Strehlow, Waupun, Short Story, “The High Price of Violets” HM, Jean Bunker Schmidt, Rock Springs, Short Story, “Postscripts for Paulie” HM, Dorothy Wrenn, Attingham Writers, England, Short Story, “Lucifer Hears the Call of Spring” HM, Jack Hoehn, Augusta, Short Story, “Small Town Cop” *judge Haskell M. Block 1st, Paul W. Miller, Bristol, TN, Article, “An Evening with WH Auden” 2nd, Harold Uehling, Waupun, Article, “The Inner Man Steps Out” HM, Helen G. Lindahl, Superior, Article, “Wisconsin’s Only Starting Gate” *judge Jim Dan Hill 1st, Anne C. Rose, Gilmanton, Essay, “Trees, As Symbols” 2nd, Irene Kindler Bowman, Muscatine, IA, Creative Nonfiction, “A Lump of Clay” HM, Roswell B. Rohde, Augusta, Creative Nonfiction, “Be A Writer – Without Writing” HM, Melba Baehr, Eau Claire, Creative Nonfiction, “Summer!” HM, Irene Kindler Bowman, Augusta, “Kin” HM, Eileen M. Hasse, Loganville, Creative Nonfiction, “The Age I Am” HM, Cecelia Rossman, Green Bay, Creative Nonfiction, “Busza’s Christmas Legacy” HM, Ruth Behling, Oconomowoc, Creative Nonfiction, “Gates” HM, Alvin M. Peterson, Onalaska, Creative Nonfiction, “The Birds of March” HM, Dorothy Julius, Fond du Lac, Creative Nonfiction, “Empty House in the Country” HM, Alice Davis, West Bend, Creative Nonfiction, “Great-Uncle Webby” *judge EH Jamison
1960 1st, John Green, Harrisonburg, VA, Playwriting, “Senator, Senator” *judge Adele Gordon 1st, Charles B. Stonebarger, Hartland, Poetry, “Spun Silence” 2nd, Poetry, Beatrice Frackelton, Oconomowoc, “Itinerary” HM, Pearl Swiggum, Soldiers Grove, “Counterpoint” *judge David M Stocking 1st, Charles B. Tinkham, Hammond, IN, Short Story, The Student” 2nd, Ruby Yarber, Short Story, Racine, “Brand New” HM, Jack Hoehn, Short Story, San Leandro, CA, “Like Squaresville” *judge Leroy D. Haley 1st, Carrie Cropley, Kenosha Article, “Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth” 1st, Roswell B. Rhode, Augusta, Creative Nonfiction, “My Auto-Dilemma” 2nd, Helen C. Smith, Evansville, Creative Nonfiction, “The Materials of Poetry” HM, Ann Uehling, Waupun, Creative Nonfiction, “Metamorphosis” No second or third place given. Judge John Patrick Hunter HM, Janet Schlatter, Milwaukee, Article, “The Other Side of the Mountain” HM, Mildred R Jones, Baraboo, Article, “Over the Hills” *judge Richard H. Leonard
1961 1st, George Bergemeister, West Allis, Poetry 1st, Patricia Kieckhefer, Waukesha, Short Story 1st, Bernice Yonkee, Deerbrook, Article
1962 1st, Erva Loomis Merow, Kenosha, Playwriting 1st, John G. Parker, Hartland, Poetry 1st, Loretta Strehlow, Milwaukee, Short Story 1st, Eva Dingwall, Superior, Article
1963 (Categories not known) 1st, Ronnie Druckenbrod, Madison 1st, Mr. Otto (Frances) Goesling, Milwaukee 1st, Hazel Maryan, Madison 1st, Mrs. Stanley Reinke, Oshkosh 1st, Frieda Lease, Oregon 1st, Esther Kinateder, Brookfield
1964 1st, Dennis Roidt, Stoughton, Playwriting 1st, Dorothy C. Schrader, Evansville, Poetry 1st, June Renny, Madison, Short story 1st, Dorothy Litersky, Sheboygan Falls Article 1st, Dorothy Litersky, Sheboygan Falls Essay 1st, Donna Pape, Sheboygan Juvenile
1965 1st, Barbara Vroman, Hancock, Playwriting 1st, Anne Stubbe, Wausau, Poetry 1st, Joy Daane, Hingham, Short Story 1st, Roger P. Brueswitz, Fox Lake, Article 1st, Annette B. Kurz, Port Edwards, Essay 1st, Sara Rath, Gays Mills, Juvenile
1966 1st, Chester W. Megal, Milwaukee, Playwriting 1st, Mrs. Lawrence Larmon, Minocqua, Poetry 1st, Joe Mays, Fox Lake, Short Story 1st, Michael Warlum, Madison, Article 1st, Jean B. Schmidt, Rock Springs, Essay 1st, Cora Germain, Sturgeon Bay, Juvenile
1967 1st, Dorothy Litersky, Manitowoc, Playwriting 1st, Margaret Jurnigan, Port Edwards, Poetry 1st, Edythe Kazda, Evansville, Short Story 1st, Emma Force Lewis, Milwaukee, Article 1st, Ruth Bunker Christiansen, (?)Frederic, Essay 1st, Nancy Rose, Green Bay, Juvenile Fiction
1968 1st, Marcia Frierdich, Milwaukee, Playwriting 1st, Marjorie Elliott, Madison, Poetry 1st, Genevieve Latus, Milwaukee, Short Story 1st, Marvin A. Price, Fox Lake, Article 1st, Dorothy Balts, Portage, Essay 1st, Helen Fahrbach, Menasha, Juvenile “A Pet for the Princess”
1969 1st, Lu Bollow, Milwaukee, Playwriting 1st, Sara Rath, Boscobel, Poetry 1st, Sara Rath, Boscobel, Short Story 1st, George Reimers, Fox Lake, Article 1st, Clarice Dunn, Madison, Essay 1st, Elmer Otte, Appleton, Juvenile
1970 1st, Arlene Bruso, Rhinelander, Playwriting 1st, Loretta Strehlow, Milwaukee, Poetry 1st, Nancy Rose, Green Bay, Short Story 1st, Marion Rewey, Verona, Article 1st, Marion Rewey, Verona, Essay 1st, Elvira Horn, Stevens Point, Juvenile
1971 1st, E. Andrew Stark, Playwriting 1st, Frances May, Sturgeon Bay, Poetry 1st, Eleanor Richardson, Janesville, Short Story 1st, Ida E. Bahl, S Daytona, FL, Article 1st, Frieda Lease, Madison, Essay 1st, Lisa Proctor, Appleton, Juvenile
1972 1st, Clarice Dunn, Madison, Playwriting 1st, Marion Rewey, Verona, Poetry 1st, Marge Killilea, Oshkosh, Short Story 1st, Eleanor Richardson, Janesville, Article 1st, Mildred Utke, Shawano (Marinette), Essay 1st, Sue Lanser, Beaver Dam, Juvenile
1973 1st, Joy Daane, Hingham, Playwriting 1st, Ruth Burmeister, Reedsburg, Poetry 1st, Marion Rewey, Verona, Short Story 1st, Florence Lindemann, Milwaukee, Article 1st, Janet LaBrie, Essay 1st, Nancy C. Rose, Green Bay, Juvenile
1974 1st, Randall Nicholas, Playwriting 1st, Jacqueline Maki, Poetry 1st, Lawrence Guth, Short Story 1st, Robert Berndt, Oshkosh, Article 1st, Marilyn Denham, Essay 1st, Annie Johnson, Juvenile
1975 1st, Lu Bollow, Milwaukee, Playwriting 1st, Dorothy Litersky, Sheboygan Falls, Bicentennial play 1st, Joanne Bleakley Madison, Poetry 1st, Nancy Behrend, Short Story 1st, Nancy Olson, Taylor, Article 1st, Beatrice Smith, Cudahy, Essay 1st, Ellen Kort, Appleton, Juvenile
1976 1st, Karen Stacey, Playwriting 1st, Nancy Rose, Green Bay, Poetry 1st, Evelyn Rozek, Short Story 1st, Margaret Damp, Article 1st, Lu V. Smith, Racine, Essay 1st, Paulette Sacksteder, Juvenile 1st, Anne Krueger, Greenleaf, Photography
1977 1st, Josephine Broadhead, Playwriting 1st, Marion Stewart, Poetry 1st, Gerald Heideman, Short Story 1st, Lucy Baras, Sheboygan, Article 1st, Ellen Kort, Appleton, Essay 1st, Clarice Dunn, Madison, Juvenile 1st, Paula Delfeld, Brownsville, Photography
1978 1st, Eileen Ehnert, Kiel, Playwriting 1st, June Zwickey, Appleton, Poetry 1st, Joan Zeier, Madison, Short Story 1st, Mildred Schroeder, DeForest, Article 1st, Blanche Lindblad, Sheboygan, Essay 1st, Marion Fuller Archer, Middleton, Juvenile 1st, Arlene Buttles, Photography 1st, Della Bopf, Rothschild
1979 1st, Peter Roop, Appleton, Playwriting 1st, Joan Zeier, Madison, Poetry 1st, Thomas Malin, Brookfield, Short Story 1st, Donna Sanders, Chippewa Falls, Article 1st, Ruth Lembke, Sussex, Essay 1st, Carol J. Beuhlow, Juvenile 1st, Dan Behring, Photography 1st, Dorothy Schwenker, Janesville
1980 1st, Mrs. Otto (Frances) Goesling, Playwriting 1st, Joanne Bleakley, Madison ,Poetry 1st, Emmy Lou Schenk, Cedarburg, Short Story 1st, Mary Ceci, Article 1st, Helen Hering, Wausau, Essay 1st, Kathryn Nawrocke, Historical 1st, Sarah Busjahn, Unknown category 1st, Don Davenport, Unknown category 1st, J.B. Dibble, M.D., Eau Claire, Juvenile
1981 1st, Kathleen Warnes, Playwriting 1st, Grace Samuelson, Edgerton, Poetry 1st, J.B. Dibble, M.D., Eau Claire, Short Story 1st, Mabel Haugen, Tomahawk, Article 1st, Kathryn Nawrocki, (NE), Essay 1st, Jean Mackey, Manitowoc, Juvenile 1st, May Ann Rasmussen, Historical 1st, Cedric Vig, Rhinelander, Unknown category
1982 1st, Ken Perejko, Playwriting 1st, Bonnie E. Selmer, Poetry 1st, Terry Germaine Free, Anoka, MN, Short Story 1st, Julia C. McCleary, Roscoe, IL, Article 1st, Douglas Prindle, Green Bay, Essay 1st, Peter Roop, Appleton, Juvenile
1983 1st, Joan Rohr Meyers, Playwriting Unknown Poetry 1st, Dorothy Carey, Green Bay, Short Story 1st, Kathryn Nawrocke, Article 1st, Bernice Abrahamson, Lewis, Essay 1st, Carolyn Muchala, Juvenile
1984 1st, Janice Penkalski, Playwriting 1st, Della Bopf, Rothschild, Poetry 1st, Lynne Finch, New London, Short Story 1st, Kathy Taylor, Article 1st, Joan Zeier, Madison, Essay 1st, Lynne Finch, New London, Juvenile 1st, Vern J. Wolf, Photography
1985 1st, Doris Cronk, Menomonie, Playwriting 1st, Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay, Poetry 1st, Lu V. Smith, Racine, Short Story 1st, Mary Conroy, Madison, Article 1st, Elmer Otte, Appleton, Essay 1st, Kathy Warnes, Juvenile 1st, Toni Becker, Sheboygan, Photography (?)Connie Roop
1986 Playwriting - Not awarded 1st, Joan R. Meyers, Poetry 1st, Mel Brenner, Short Story 1st, Larry Johns, Bloomington MN, Article 1st, Mary Conroy, Madison, Essay 1st, Marion Colbo, Milwaukee, Juvenile Photography - Not awarded
1987 1st, Edna Thorp, Janesville, Playwriting (May 2021 obituary said poetry) 1st, Helen Fahrbach, Neenah, Poetry 1st, Evelyn Blanek, Short Story 1st, Elmer Otte, Appleton, Article 1st, Mary Ellen Pourchot, Essay 1st, Katherine Von Ahnen, Cap May, NJ, Juvenile
1988 1st, Joy Daane, Sheboygan, Playwriting 1st, Frances May, Sturgeon Bay, Poetry 1st, Sylvia w. Liedtke, Short Story 1st, Ann Jahnke, Appleton, Article 1st, Douglas Prindle, Green Bay, Essay 1st, Susan Connors, Madison, Juvenile
1989 1st, Mel Brenner, Madison, Playwriting 1st, Ellen Kort, Appleton, Poetry 1st, Joy Daane, Sheboygan, Short Story 1st, Allen Werner, Germantown, Article 1st, Mary Maduscha, Shawano, Essay 1st, Lynne Finch, New London, Juvenile
1990 1st, Randall Rehberg, Racine, Playwriting 1st, Laurel Mills, Neenah, Poetry 1st, Nancy Olson, Taylor, Short Story 1st, Tim H. McDonell, M.D., Waukesha, Article 1st, Kathryn L. Voigt, Menasha, Essay 1st, Al Wawrzaszek, Hatley, Juvenile Florence Lindemann Humor, Rita Fredrick, Portage, “40th Wedding Anniversary Bed”
1991 Playwriting -(insufficient entries) 1st, Russell King, Madison, Poetry 1st, Meg Ruville-Heitz, Deerfield, Short Story 1st, Elizabeth Brittonsmith, Menasha, Article 1st, Russell King, Madison, Essay 1st, Elizabeth Brittonsmith, Menasha Juvenile
1992 1st, Elmer Otte, Appleton, Poetry 1st, Helen C. Johannes, Marshfield, Short Story 1st, John Bates, Mercer, Article 1st, Bud Johnson, Milwaukee, Essay 1st, Joan Zeier, Madison, Juvenile 1st, Patricia Dunson, Appleton, Mystery
1993 1st, Cathryn A. Cofell Appleton, Poetry 1st, Richard C. Radtke, Madison, Short Story 1st, Barbara Hart, Racine, Article 1st, Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay, Essay 1st, Sandy Mickelson, Kimberly, Juvenile 1st, Lu V. Smith, Racine, Nostalgia
1994 1st, Sue DeKelver, Marinette, Poetry HM, Poetry, Kay Sanders, “Bath, in House, Alone” 1st, Fran Zill, Madison, Short Story 1st, Jane Ellis, New Berlin, Article 1st, Kay Sanders, Oshkosh, Essay, “Sign of the Owl” 1st, Judy Haskins, Oregon, Juvenile 1995 1st, Debbie A. Tripp, Nashotah, Article 1st, Laurie Neubecker, Oshkosh, Essay 1st, Maureen Fitzgerald Waugh, Madison, Short Story 1st, Joan Simons, Wauwatosa, Juvenile 1st, Grace Houston, Kenosha, Nostalgia 1st, Barbara Larsen, Sister Bay, Poetry, "New Way of Seeing" Al P. Nelson Feature Writing contest began, and ran through 2011 Sheila Ross Doering Al P. Nelson Feature Article 2nd, Bernice Abrahamson, APN 3rd, Quentin Verdier, APN
1997 1st, Kay Sanders, Oshkosh, Poetry, “Remembering Aunt Essie’s Hair” 1st, Elizabeth Deakman, Short Story 3rd, Short Story, Kay Sanders, “Mr. Bill” 1st, Barbara Coan Houghton, Verona Article 1st, Richard O. Haight, Egg Harbor, Essay 3rd, Personal Experience, Kay Sanders, “Typecast” 1st, Susan Marie Manzke, Juvenile 1st, Bernice Abrahamzon, Lewis, Nostalgia 1st, Jane Ellis, Al P. Nelson Feature Article
1998 Honorable Mention, 50th Anniversary, Kay Sanders, “Seeing Grandpa Safely Home” 1st, Karla Huston, fiction, “Picture This” 1st, Mary Wendland, Poetry, “Floodgate” Treva Davis, Al P. Nelson Feature Article
1999 2nd, Karla Houston poetry HM, Karla Houston poetry Lyn Curry Lombard, Al P. Nelson Feature Article 2000 1st, Karla Huston, humorous poetry, “The Waitress” 1st, Jackie Langetieg, youth poetry, “Casal’s Cello” 1st, William O Ladewig, Menomonee Falls, Al P Nelson Feature Writing Contest, “Food for Thought” Kathleen Petrella, Burlington, Florence Lindemann Humor writing contest, “Italian—Language With an Attitude” 2001 Les Goplen, Al P Nelson Feature Article 2nd, Jo Stewart, Solon Springs, Al P. Nelson
2002 1st, nostalgia, Patricia Weisberg, Milwaukee 3rd, Nostalgia, Kay Sanders, “The Language Children Never Forget” Honorable Mention, Kay Sanders, “The Scale of Things” Honorable Mention, Poetry, Kay Sanders, “Pinwheel” Betty Walker Stark, Al P Nelson Feature Article
2003 Tied 1st place poetry, both by Kay Sanders, “Aunt Ida” and “Along Back Roads” 2nd poetry, Margaret L Been, “Maple Candy in a Nursing Home” 1st, nostalgia, Wilma Leonard, Baraboo Loa Huber, Al P Nelson Feature Article 2004 *Poetry - judge John Lehman 1st, Sandra J. Lindow, Eau Claire 2nd, Barbara Houghton, McFarland 3rd, Kathleen Petrella, Walworth HM, Judy Kolossa, Wauwatosa, Barbara Houghton, George S. Kulas, Fond du Lac *Article – judge Bill Nelson 1st, Michele Bergstrom, Eagle River 2nd, Patricia Weisberg, Milwaukee 3rd, Charles P. Ries, Milwaukee HM, Charlotte Clark, Pardeeville; Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay; Donald B. Derozier, Oshkosh; Bernice Abrahamzon, Frederic *Essay – judge Jim Stingl 1st, Wilma Leonard, Baraboo 2nd, Jane C. Ellis, New Berlin 3rd, Sally Blair, Frederic HM – Claudia Anderson, Whitewater; Mary Jane Lunde Burrell, Stoughton; Lou Lucknow Bulebosh, Plymouth *Juvenile Literature – judge Ann Angel 1st, Darlene Buechel, Chilton 2nd, Mary Jane Lunde Burrell, Stoughton 3rd, Wilber E. Selbrede, Madison HM – William Ladewig, Wauwatosa; Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay; Patricia Kasten, Appleton *Nostalgia – judge Jerry Apps 1st,, Dorothy Loftus, Deerfield 2nd, nostalgia, Julie C. Eger, “The Broken Bowl” 3rd, Alice Claypool, nostalgia, “The Radio” HM – June Kinsey, Wauwatosa; Barbara Coan Houghton, McFarland; George S. Kulas, Fond du Lac short story – judge Jane Toombs 1st,,Val G. Johnson, Grantsburg 2nd, Kathy Warnes, Toledo, OH 3rd, Jerry Peterson, Janesville HM – Barbara Malcolm, Green Bay; Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay 2005, Contest Chair Cary Fellman 1st, Juvenile Short Story, Susan Kileen 1st, Article, Julie Eger, “Between a Fork and a Hard Place” 1st, Nostalgia, Sandy Tully, “Barefoot on Stones” 1st, Adult Short Story, Kathie McGwin 2nd, Agnes Kennard, Short Story, “An Abiding Mystery” 1st, Richard E. Carter, Wauwatosa, Al P. Nelson Feature Article, “Going to Grandma’s” 2nd, John Friedell, Shell Lake 3rd, Boyd Sutton, Siren HM, Bernadette Friedell HM, J Ellis, HM, Betty Smedlund 2005 Florence Lindemann humor contest 1st place, Herb Stanelle, Brown Deer, “Life of Rupert” 2nd, Judity Sepsey, New Berlin 3rd, Gwennith Hinz, Lomira HM, Kathey Warnes, “Ecorse”
2006 1st, Dorothy Lund, Article, “Cameo of Dad” 2nd, Nancy Bauer-King, Article, “Tobacco Ties” 3rd, Mickey Burgermeister, Article, “The Crick” HM John Friedell, Article, “Call the Question”; Lou Roach, “Filmmaker’s Best Flourishes In a Most Unlikely Place”; Betsy Foley, “A Woman Ahead of Her Time” * Contest Judge: Jenny Brantley Essay 1st, Judy A. Kolosso, Essay, “One Less” 2nd Julie C. Eger, Essay, “La Que Sabe’s Bag of Tricks” 3rd Sylvia Oberle, Essay, “An Afternoon and Evening at the Free Clinic” HM Essay, Dee Trein-Jucius, “Am I Old?”; Mary Farley, “Perennial Springtime”; Nancy Schultz, “Lady Bratt Ashley” *Contest Judge: Carolyn Wedin 1st, Barbara Megna, Nostalgia, “No Proper Goodbye” 2nd Harry Sarazin, Nostalgia, “A Close Shave” 3rd Ramon A. Klitzke, Nostalgia, “The Switchyard” HM, Nostalgia, Ruth G. Smith, “Our Way of Life”; Margaret Nelson, “The Dutch Knew How”; Lola M. Huber, “Grandpa Added The Spice” *Contest Judge: Wilma Bedmarz JUVENILE SHORT STORY Jade Ring, Brenda Nelson-Davis, “Elena and the Worries” 2nd William G. Ladewig, “Turtle Hunting on the Bayou” 3rd Cathy Conger, “Having Hula” HM: Mary Jo Stitch, “The Bakery” Steve Betchkal, “How the Bear Ran Out of Patience” Rachel DeRosa “The Sock-Nest Monster” *judge Cornell M. Brellenthin ADULT SHORT STORY Jade Ring, Les Huisman, “The Ice Cream Man” 2nd Neela K. Suklhatme-Sheth, “Two Tigers Cannot Share One Hill” 3rd Rebecca K. Blemberg, “After the Shooting at 12th Street Station” Honorable Mention: Charles P. Ries, “Albino Prunes” Mary Jacobsen, “The Red Patch” Richard E. Carter, “Reunion” *Contest Judge: Anthony Bukoski Poetry, 135 entries by 52 writers. Jade Ring, John Manesis, “The Ascent of Icarus” 2nd John L. Campbell, “The Clutter Brothers” 3rd Berit Aaker Pietsch, “Crossing A Great Distance” Honorable Mention: Margaret Been, “Summer of Horses” Sandra Tully, “Origins” Judy Kolosso, “A Proper Farewell” *judge LaMoine MacLaughlin 1st, Susan Damgard O’Brien, Al P Nelson Feature Article 2nd, Boyd Sutton, place, article ?Al P Nelson feature writing article contest 2007 1st, Boyd Sutton, Siren, Essay, “Owning Your Own Time” 1st, Patricia Weisberg, Milwaukee, Article, “20th Century Crusader” HM Mark J Lucius, Milwaukee, article, “Cake Eaters” 1st, Susan Engebrecht, Wausau, Nostalgia, “Galoshes Memories” 3rd Nostalgia, Mary Jo Balistreri,- "October at Dad's" 1st, Ramon A. Klitzke, Waukesha, Adult Short Story, “The Summer of ‘33” 1st, Sue Wentz, Portage, “Servant to the Wolf” Juvenile Short Story 1st, Julie C. Eger, Wautoma, Poetry, “Broken Promise” 2nd Place Poetry, Mary Jo Balistreri, "Stairs In The Artist's Garden" after Bonnard 1st, Dorothy Lund, Al P. Nelson Feature Article
2008 Charles P. Ries, Milwaukee, Humorous Poetry 1st, Peter Sherrill, Forestville, Serious Poetry William G. Ladewig, Menomonee Falls, Nostalgia 1st, Mark J. Lucius, Milwaukee, Article, “No Accounting for Taste” Julie C. Eger, Wautoma, Essay, “The Lesson Of the Deep Song” LaMoine McLaughlin, “Clayton,” Adult Short Story Denice Ryan Martin, Dousman, Juvenile Short Story 2nd, Julie C. Eger, memoir, “Puberty 101” 2nd, Agnes Kennard, “Coffee and Common Ground” Sue Wentz, Al P Nelson Feature Article Florence Lindeman Humor Contest, Ronald H Schumber 2009 Janet Grant-Gustafson, Nostalgia, “Summer Surrogate” Charles P. Ries, Humorous Poetry Mary Jo Balistreri, Short Story, "Bonnard Remembers Marthe in Evening Light" Kim Suhr, Genesse Depot, Florence Lindemann Humor Contest, “To Cap it Off” Heidi Overson, Onalaska, Al P. Nelson Feature Article, “King of Bees” 2010 Yvette Viets Flaten, Serious Poetry, “Good Humorous Man” Nancy Jesse, Short Story, “Creative Nonfiction” Darlene Buechel, Nostalgia, “Witches, Fairies, and Chocolate Cherries” Carolyn Marquardt, Al P Nelson Feature Article HM, nonfiction, Dawn Bedore Proctor, Terror Management HM, Al P. Nelson feature writing contest, Dawn Bedore Proctor, “Melissa Etheridge’s Autograph” 2010, Kim Suhr 2010, Joanne Nelson 2010, Dave Thome 2011 Al P. Nelson feature writing contest, special merit, Dawn Bedore Protcor, essay, “The Arrogance of the Living” HM, nonfiction, Dawn Bedore Proctor, “The Island Bridegroom” 1st, Karla Huston, Serious Poetry, “O’Hair” 2nd, Peter Lund, serious poetry, “Two Neighbors” 3rd, July Kolosso, serious poetry, “Farmer, Taster of Life” HM, Yvette Viets Later, serious poetry, “To My Friend in Thailand” 1st, Sandra Lindow, Humorous Poetry, “The Fitting” 2nd Humorous poetry, Connie Ludlum, “Annie Cadaver” 3rd, humorous poetry, Nancy Jesse, “Question for My Deceased Father” HM, humorous poetry, Alice D’Alession, “My Husband Dreams of Tomatoes” HM, humorous poetry, Doris Bezio “Heart Covered Boxers” 1st, Rena Beyer, Nostalgia, “Our Church” 2nd, nostalgia, Gary Jones, “Edna” 3rd, nostalgia, Peg Sherry, “My Love Affair with Fire” HM, nostalgia, Jamie Kinworthy, “The Skinny on Breakfast” HM, nostalgia, JoAnn Jones Opsahl, “JoAnn” 1st, Dawn Bedore Proctor, Nonfiction Essay, “The Ride Home” 2nd essay, Gary Jones, “Memorials Forgotten” 3rd essay, James Guhl, “The Call of the Flambeau” HM essay, Greg Peck, “A Giant of a Killer in a Body Too Small” HM essay, Barbara Kaufmann, “When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Sparkles” 1st, Karl Rubenstein, Fiction, “Sparks” 2nd, adult fiction, Anne C. Zimmerman, “The Chrysalis Stage” 3rd, adult fiction, Maura Fitzgerald, “One Letter Off” HM, adult fiction, Kim Suhr, “Rink Rats” HM, adult fiction, John J. Mutter, Jr., “The Regulators” 1st, Elizabeth Haling, Juvenile Fiction, “If I Were…” 2nd juvenile fiction, Tia Svardahl, “One Beautiful me” 3rd, juvenile fiction, Heidi Overson, “Karl’s Hope” HM, juvenile fiction, Elizabeth Gamache, “Curtain Call” 1st, Jenny Benjamin, First Chapter, “This Amazin’” 2nd, first chapters, Jeanette Michalets, “The Ten Cent Café” 3rd, first chapters, Andrew Davis, “Baker’s Dozen” Susan Engebrecht, Wausau, Florence Lindemann Humor Contest, “O Chicken Feathers” Ralph “Bud” Mason, Al P. Nelson Feature Article, (final contest), “My Honor Flight” 2012 Judy Kolosso, Free Verse Poetry, “Settling Down” Florence Lindemann Humor Contest: Erin Clune, “An Open Letter to Malcolm Gladwell’s Audio Book” 1st, Mary Jo Balistreri, Nonfiction, “When All Hell Broke Loose” 2nd place, essay, Dorothy Lund, “They Should’ve Asked a Logger” 3rd, Jeanette Michalets, essay, “To Kityma With Love: Books as Keepsakes” HM, Lisa Lickel, essay, “Accounting for Spring” HM, Carole McFarlin, essay, “Deerskin River on Sunday” 1sr, Kathy Lanzarotti, Fiction, “Have You Seen Me?” 2nd, fiction, Jonnie Guernsey, “Saint Lonely” 3rd, fiction, Mary Lu Perham, “The Bird Feeders” HM, fiction, Lori Lipsky, “The Flip” 1st, Elizabeth Harmatys Park, Formal Poetry, “Ketterhagen Road” 2nd, formal verse, Judy Kolosso, “To a Swamp Meadowlark” 3rd, formal verse, Paul Kosir, “The Northern Lights” HM, formal verse, Paula Anderson, “Maybe” HM, formal verse, Jim X, “Beastly Feelings” 2nd, Sharon Foley, free verse, “Hospital Visit” 3rd, Margaret Swedish, free verse, “The Cemetery” HM, Brenda Axt, free verse, “Late December at Dusk” HM, Judy Roy, free verse, “Departure” 1st, Nancy Jesse, Memoir, “Whitewashing” 2nd, Jennifer Taylor, memoir, “The Band” 3rd, Doris Bezio, memoir, “Good Wife” HM, Joanne Nelson, memoir, Canned Peaches in Winter” HM, Elizabeth Haling, memoir, “Memories of Grandma” 2013 Lisa Lickel, Kewaskum, Juvenile Fiction, “Saxon Boy” Dorothy Loftus, Nostalgia, “Tick Tock” Nancy Jesse, Madison, Poetry, “The Nature of Memory” Judge Marilyn Taylor, poetry Judge Juvenile fiction, editors from Orange Hat Publishing 2014 1st, essay, Bruce Campbell, Medical School Commencement v. Graduation 2nd, essay, Joel Habush, Nights of the Roundtable 3rd, essay, Brenda Axt, Read It Then Die HM, essay, Joanne Nelson, Speeding, In a Good Way HM, essay, Gary Jones, Adjunct 1st, memoir, Jim Brakken, “Dale” 2nd, essay, Bill Mathis, “Three Feet” 3rd, essay, Nancy Sweetland, “The Great Ride” HM, essay, Jim Brakken, “Opening Day” 1st, fiction for young people, Jim Guhl, “Mr. Schnitzer’s Diamond” 2nd, fiction for young people, Brenda Axt, “Who Are You, What Do You Say?” 3rd, fiction for young people, Pamela Parker, “Quintin and Lucius” 1st, fiction, Naomi Musch, “Ellie Hollis Gets Her Man” 2nd, fiction, Heidi Overson, “Evil Sleeps While Goodness Creeps” 3rd, fiction, Heidi Overson, “Waters of Paradise” HM, fiction, Joan Zeier, “Love Letters in the Dust” HM, fiction, Jim Guhl, “Water Aerobics” Mike Orlock, Free Verse Poetry, “Apocalypse” Suzy Wedeward, Formal Poetry, “Dreaming in Sestina”
2015 1st, nonfiction, Bill Mathis, “The Oak Tree” 2nd, nonfiction, James Guhl, “The Artist Within” 3rd, nonfiction, Paul Gurzynksi, “A Well-Timed Call” HM, nonfiction, Brenda Axt, “River Rat” HM, nonfiction, Carl Taylor-Carlson, “Letting Go” 1st, fiction, James Guhl, “Deep” 2nd, fiction, Tammy Bailey, “Closing Time” 3rd, fiction, GA Scheinoha, “J Street Blues” HM, fiction, Billie Diersen, “Eight Words” HM, fiction, Mary Jane Guhl, “Rabbit” 1st, poetry, Yvette Viet Flaten, “Skies by Tiepolo” 2nd, poetry, Jill Follett, “Control” 3rd, poetry, Irene Hansen, “Off-spooling” HM. Poetry, Bill Mathis, “Of Balancing Rocks” HM, poetry, Melinda Hagenson, “Easter Week” Elaine Maly, Humor, “No Comprende” Dorothy Lund, Essay, “Cameo of Dad” 2016 *Nonfiction judge, Laurie Scheer, Faculty Associate and Writing Mentor at the University of Wisconsin—Madison awarded: 1st, nonfiction, Robert Kinderman, Trego, “Saving Dad.” 2nd, nonfiction, Cyndy Irvine, Amherst Junction, “Tiny Stitches.” 3rd, nonfiction, Jessica Schnur, Milwaukee, “Unstuck.” HM, nonfiction, Karin Schmidt, Wauwatosa “Literature’s Lavender Scented Little Old Lady” HM, nonfiction, Maryclaire Torinus, Brookfield, “A Place Just Right” *judge Marilyn Taylor, former Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, poetry 1st, poetry, Charles Haislet, Gordon, “Truth” 2nd, poetry, John Leighton, Hayward, “Amy” 3rd, poetry, Mary Jo Balistreri, Genesee Depot, “Sea Crows” Honorable Mention poets Judy Roy of Bailey’s Harbor HM poetry Gary Scheinoha, Eden. *judge Novelist Patricia Skalka, fiction 1st fiction, Carolyn Toms-Neary, St. Francis, “Beware the Bindlestiff” 2nd, fiction, Elise Gregory of Ellsworth, “The Junction Bar” 3rd fiction, Lora Hyler, “Stealth Love” HM, fiction, Melinda Hagenson of Eau Claire, “The War at Home” HM fiction, Joel Habush, West Allis, “Judicial Sentences”
2017 1st place, nonfiction, Greg Peck, “Small Decision, Big Consequence” Not published: 1st, fiction, Kathleen Waldvogel, “I Can Fight as Well as Any Man” 1st, Katherine Yets, poetry HM fiction, Nancy Jesse, Madison, “On Their Own Terms” 2018 Kathrine Yets, St. Francis, Poetry, “Plath’s Birthday” Steve Fox, fiction, “Dumplings” Nancy Jesse, Madison, Nonfiction, “The Road Not Taken” Karin Schmidt, Humor, “The Dog Who Came in From the Cold” Honorable Mention, Humor, Tracey Gemmell, "Scooby-Doo and Hobnobs" 2019 1st, poetry, Kayla Knaack, poetry, “Bathtub Baptism” 2nd poetry, Paul Schulz, Slinger, “Do You See That?” 3rd poetry, Nancy Rafal, Bailey’s Harbor, “Twists and Turns” HM poetry, Sharon Foley, Whitefish Bay, “Flapjacks” HM poetry, Sara Sarna, Oconomowoc, “Coloring” HM poetry, Susan Hunnicutt, Milwaukee, “I’m Not Gone” 1st, fiction, PJA Fullerton, “Going to Join Dickens” 2nd fiction, Steve Fox, Hudson, “Bread-Enders” 3rd fiction, Susan Hunnicutt, Milwaukee, “An Empty Metal Mailbox HM fiction, Bruce Campbell, “Spinning” HM fiction, Robb Grindstaff, Jefferson, “Airport Lounges” HM fiction, Kim Suhr, Wales, “Numbered Days” 1st, nonfiction, Julia Gimbel, “My Miss New Orleans” 2nd nonfiction, Janice Wilberg, Milwaukee, “The Dog of Our Hard Times” 3rd place, nonfiction, Karin Schmidt, Wauwatosa, “The Suchness of my Muchness: HM nonfiction, Mary J. Guhl, Neenah, “Through the Ice” HM nonfiction, Nancy Sweetland, Green Bay, “April Ailment” 1st, humor, Janice Wilberg, “Crop Tending” 2nd humor, Jackie Langetieg, Verona, “My Phantom Belly Button” 3rd humor, pat Palechek, New Berlin, “The Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” HM humor, Jim Guhl, Hudson, “Twisted” HM humor, Tracey Gemmell, New Glarus, “Scooby-Doo and Hobnobs” HM, humor, Nancy Bauer King, Racine, “Is There an App for That?” 2020 1st, Camilla Cenek, Nonfiction, “After Midnight” 2nd, nonfiction, Ed Sarna, “Draft Day Prize” 3rd, nonfiction, Nan Bogue, “Cornfields Everywhere” HM nonfiction, Julia Gimbel, “Once Haunted, Now Resolved” HM nonfiction, Mel Miskimen, “A Girl Walked into a Bar…” HM nonfiction, Cliffe Connor, “Fighting” 1st, J. MacKenzie, Fiction, “Puppy Day” 2nd fiction, Steve Fox, “Goat Milk” 3rd fiction, Doug Lewandowski, “Cold Comfort” HM fiction, Joy Ribar, “The Bee Servant” HM fiction, Brea Behn, “Letters to Love” HM fiction, Jo DeMars, “Going for a Ride” 1st, Yvette Vliet Flaten, Eau Claire, Poetry, “He runs his fingers” 2nd place poetry, Jim Landewehr, “Wordnapped” 3rd poetry, Jackie Langetieg, “But I Try!” HM poetry, Mike Orlock, “Uncertain Spring, 2020” HM poetry, Debra McKinney, “The Box” HM poetry, Sara Sarna, “A Place Past Cold” 2021 1st, Owen Albric (Rick Whaley), Fiction, “Tying the Knot With No End” 2nd, fiction, Mary Wimmer, “Five” 3rd fiction, Vickie Youngquist Smith, “Cloud Like a Lamb” HM, Fiction, Bruce Campbell, HM Fiction, Janice Kehler, “Ode to Olympic Dreams”
1st, Lora Hyler, Nonfiction, “The Bill of Rights, One College-educated Negro Man, and a 1955 Protest by 39 White Wauwatosa Women” 2nd, nonfiction, Nancy Jorgensen, “Little Known Truths about Lilies of the Valley” 3rd, nonfiction, Joy Ribar, “Bird Envy HM, nonfiction, Christa Bruhn, “Yolo” HM nonfiction, Kevin Burghardt, “Runaway” HM nonfiction, Rosie Klepper, “Swans vs Hippos” 1st, Kathie Giorgio, Waukesha, Poetry, “Again” 2nd Poetry, Elizabeth Harrahy, “Center of the Universe” 3rd, poetry, Doris Bezio, “Sea Turtle” HM Poetry, Christy Hoff, “I Was Will” HM Poetry, Sharon Foley, “Thrown Away” HM Poetry, Jennifer Vanderheyden, “Consolee’s Testimonial Chant” 2022 Fiction 1st,Nancy Jesse, Madison, "Notes to the New Facilitator of the Reminiscence Writing Group at Sunnyvale Retirement Community" 2nd, Steve Fox, Hudson, "Larmet Lunker" 3rd, Sherry Lee Feig, Madison, Chapter Three: An Avatar is Born Honorable Mention, Silvia Acevedo, Milwaukee, "Two’s a Crowd" Honorable Mention, Ryan David Fleming, Birmingham, AL, "Come Ye Wanderin’ Goats" Nonfiction 1st, Adrianna Lewis McCollum, Oregon, WI, "Mormon Girl and the Styrofoam Harem" 2nd, RJ Kinderman, Trego, "A Message in a Cyber Bottle" 3rd, Ann Zindler, Waukesha, "Snow Over Grass" Honorable Mention, Victoria Lynn Smith, Superior, "The Dummy Never Showed Up" Honorable Mention, Nancy Jesse, Madison, "Water Sprites" Honorable Mention, Aleta L. Chossek, Milwaukee, "Intricate Pattern" Poetry 1st, Yvette Viets Flaten, Eau Claire, "Reflections of a Poet as a Young Girl 1969" 2nd, Sylvia Cavanaugh, Cedar Grove, "ALICE Drill" 3rd, Lynn M Aprill, Seymour, "Love" Honorable Mention, Sara Sarna, Oconomowoc, "Missing" Honorable Mention, R.B. Simon, Madison, "Letter to My Mother in Winter" Honorable Mention, Lynne Shaner, Whitefish Bay, "Marriage" 2023 Poetry 1st Place: Susan Huebner, Mukwonago, “Variation on a Theme” 2nd Place: Mary M Brown, Anderson, IN, “Another Aubade” 3rd Place: Yvette Flaten, Eau Claire, “Fade to Black” Honorable Mentions: Tad Phippen Wente, Port Washington, “At the Nursing Home” Kathleen Van Demark, Kewaskum, “Postcards from Death” Mike J Orlock, Sturgeon Bay, “Morphine-dipped Dreams” Non-fiction, judge David McGlynn No first place 2nd Place: Nancy Jesse, Madison, “Waiting Room” 3rd Place: Jeffrey Lewis, Madison “The Night was Dark” Honorable Mentions: Prasannata Verma, Milwaukee, “Fugitive” Lisa Poliak, Santa Monica, CA, “The Visible Woman” James Bonilla, Winona, MN, “Learning Grace from Mrs. Reed” Fiction 1st Place: Mary Beth Danielson, Waukesha, “How Crow Got Out of Jail” 2nd Place: Bert Kreitlow, Waukesha, “Abandoned school” 3rd Place: Brea Ruddy, Madison, “Shine On, My Light” Honorable Mentions: Robb Grindstaff, Osage Beach, MO, “Error: Memory File Corrupted” Jo Ann Opsahl, Merrill, “Goose Girl” Elizabeth Feil, Eleva, “Safe Haven” 2024 |
