George Ketterer, Class of 1966

After graduating from Madison Central High School in 1962, George attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison as a Regular (scholarship) Midshipman in the Naval ROTC program. At the end of his senior year, two weeks prior to commissioning, the CO (Capt. Forrest Todd) received notice from the Navy to dis-enroll him due to damage to his ears (sustained during his 2nd Class cruise at Corpus Christi NAS). Captain Todd appealed the decision, to no avail, so George graduated in 1966 with degrees in accounting and naval science, but no immediate career plans.

After a year working for the International Harvester Corporation as a management trainee in the Motor Truck Division, he returned to Madison in 1967 and began a long career with the University of Wisconsin in various financial management positions. During that time, he earned 30 credits from the UW-Madison Graduate School in data processing, quantitative analysis and education administration. He was married in 1968, and he and his wife Mary have four children.

While employed in the University of Wisconsin System, he served as Controller for both UW-Madison and the UW System. He was appointed as Project Manager for the implementation of PeopleSoft financial software at all 26 UW campuses. His teams brought up the Shared Financial System within budget, and on time. After taking early retirement in 2001, he continued to work both full-time and part-time in a variety of consulting positions within the University. He finally quit working for wages in 2012, and was granted the title of Controller Emeritus by the President of the University. He then began as a Board Member and Treasurer of the UW NROTC Alumni Association.

He and Mary spend part of the year in Verona, and most winter months at their home in The Villages, Florida. While there, they both volunteer their services at the local Humane Society, exercising their love of dogs. During the summer months George is a volunteer crew member and captain for the Madison Schools & Community Recreation Pontoon Program on the Madison lakes.