Tom Wiesner (2008) | UW Athletic Hall of Fame

Tom Wiesner

Induction:
2008

1959 captained the Badgers to the Big Ten Conference football title
1960 football co-captain
1960 football MVP
1960 captain of the Rose Bowl team
1960 scored UW's only touchdown in Rose Bowl
1960 fullback who led the team in rushing (87 attempts for 374 yards)
1961 played in Hawaii's Hula Bowl all-star game
1961 played in the East-West Shrine all-star game
Wisconsin State Athlete of the Year
1961 drafted by the Baltimore Colts
1971 at the time, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Clark County Commission in Las Vegas at the age of 31, a position he held for six years
1991 started the Badger Desert Golf Classic, an athletic fund raiser that supports athletic scholarships in his name
1994 was named Republican Man of the Year for his continuous support of the GOP and role as the Republican National Committee man for nearly two decades
Had a hand in coordinating football and basketball games between UW and UNLV
Known as one of Las Vegas' most prosperous and successful businessmen
Helped found the Las Vegas Athletic Club and served on the UNLV football foundation's advisory board
Was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to UNLV athletics
1996-2002 member of University of Nevada board of regents, receiving the highest honor in the state of Nevada-distinguished Nevadan award-for his longtime services
Also honored by having a street named after him in Nevada near the football stadium (Wiesner Way)
UNLV instituted a Tom Wiesner Award given to the senior football player who characterizes the courage and toughness Wiesner showed during his lengthy battle with leukemia
UW instituted the Tom Wiesner Award-presented annually to a Wisconsin-born student-athlete whose loyalty, hard work, spirit and dedication are unselfishly directed to the success of the team.