• George Baumann - 2012

George Baumann began an extended career in broadcasting, publishing and writing about hockey when he worked at KOZY radio in Grand Rapids, Minn., from 1970-1974.  He did play-by-play for the famous Grand Rapids Indians of Grand Rapids High School and hosted a twice-weekly Hockey Highlights program reviewing and previewing high school games, and broadcasting interviews with high school and college coaches across the State of Minnesota.

Baumann continued his radio career with a move to Waupun in 1974 where he began doing play-by-play of area teams and hosting live sports programs.  Expanding his past practices, in 1976 he created the High School Top Ten Rankings and provided them to both the Associated Press (A.P.) and United Press International (U.P.I.), and to many other media outlets across the State.  Baumann soon began a one-page newsletter with rankings, scores and schedules and provided it to any coach who was looking for the information.

The newsletter soon grew to become the “George Baumann High School Hockey Report” (HSHR) which was soon expanded to include preseason and post-season results.  The growth of high school hockey led to a longer HSHR and more readers, and resulted in Baumann publishing the “High School Hockey Yearbook”, that included schedules and previews of all high school and college teams across the State of Wisconsin.  Each season, Baumann provided coverage of both the WIAA and private school high school tournaments and prepared media packets for all of the media outlet in attendance.  His tournament coverage also included preparation of material to help in selecting the All-Tournament teams.  In the 1980’s, Baumann created the All-State Teams that included players from both the public and private schools.

Baumann was a frequent attendee at the Wisconsin High School Coaches Association and was eventually elected Secretary-Treasurer, a position he held until retirement.  Baumann helped promote the Senior Class Tournament in Waupun and did play-by-play for the championship game.

In 1978, Baumann received the U.P.I. State Award for high school hockey promotion, and was the first winner of the “George Baumann Friends of Hockey Award” created by the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association for his impact on the growth of hockey in the State of Wisconsin.

In other aspects of his life, Baumann was president of the Grand Rapids Sports Boosters Club, a charter member and president of the Waupun Morning Kiwanis Club, president of the Waupun Trail Days Committee, a two-term president of the Fond du Lac County Chapter of the American Red Crosss, member of the Board of Directors of the Fond du Lac Arena YMCA, a member of the VFW and American Legion and Ambassador Club President of the Fond du Lac Arena Chamber of Commerce.

Baumann and his wife Rosemary have two daughters Julie and Paula.  He retired from National Bank and Trust as the Marketing Agent.