Former LCO Chairman, Michael J. Isham Jr. was inducted into the 2019 Boys and Girls Club Inaugural Wisconsin Area Council Hall of Fame.
This is the first year WI Area Council has inducted members. Each member had to be nominated and was selected by a group of peers.
After Isham was presented the award he said, "Unbelievable. I was just inducted into the Inaugural Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin Hall of Fame. I was stunned, surprised, and just for a second, speechless. Although I am proud to be in the prestigious Hall it is really a team honor.”
Isham went on to recognize Phil Jackowitz, Lorene Bookie Weilgot, Margaret Diamond, Don Carley, Karen Harden, Lee Harden, Shelley Gerich, Heather Peterson, Bob Dykstra, George Max Taylor, the LCO Tribe, “And I know I am missing many people that make our Boys and Girls Club the top Native Club in Indian Country. I actually had to hold back a few tears. Besides my children, of all the things I do or have done, the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles is something I am most proud of!"
During his two decades holding political office, Isham held positions on Voigt Intertribal Task Force as Chairman and Vice Chairman, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, WOJB Radio Station as President, and in his own words, closest to his heart, the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles Board as Board President.
Isham has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles since its Charter in 1996.
“It was his passion for youth in his community to have a safe place to go,” said Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles Director, Heather Peterson. “With so many children in Indian Country facing obstacles in their home lives, the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles would be there to help with homework, access to sports, serve a hot meal, and most importantly provide caring professional adults who would form bonds with our youth far beyond the walls of the Club.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles was started with a $50,000 HUD grant in 1996. Today the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles has an Annual Budget of over $650,000 with over 615 Registered Members.
“Mic’s involvement and dedication to our Club has been crucial to our success. Mic is whole heartedly our ‘Club Champion’. Through our highs and most importantly through our lows, Mic has always been steadfast about doing whatever necessary to keep our doors open and serve as many kids as possible in our community,” Peterson said.
Peterson continued, “Whether Mic is in our local community at a meeting, a neighboring community, a State Meeting in Madison, or even while he is delivering the State of the Tribes Address to the State of Wisconsin, one thing is for sure, Mic is always advocating for our Club. There will never be a plaque large enough to list all of Mics attributes to the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles, but I believe being inducted into the Wisconsin Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame would fit nicely under his many accomplishes.”
Peterson thanked Isham for his passion, foresight, and dedication to the youth of Lac Courte Oreilles.
