• John Galloway - 2010

A native of Fond du Lac, Wis., Galloway settled in Neenah after service in World War II, and graduation from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  In 1964, Galloway was one of the founders of the Neenah Hockey Club, which would become Neenah Youth Hockey.  With the growth of youth hockey in the area, Galloway helped engineer the merger of the Neenah and Appleton programs into Fox Valley Youth Hockey, one of the largest youth hockey programs in the State of Wisconsin.  With the uncertainties of weather, Galloway procured indoor ice in Green Bay, but the growth of hockey eventually left the association out in the cold due to demand.  Moving the outdoor rink to a parking lot allowed Galloway and his fellow pioneers a better surface for ice and boards and a means to place new poles for lights.  Galloway and his fellow volunteers began their program on outdoor rinks that they created and helped hundreds of youngsters into the sport of ice hockey. GallowayGalloway’s assistance and generosity eventually led to saving and increased utilization of the Tri County Arena.

In 1975, heart problems forced Galloway to cut back on much of his hockey volunteer activity, but he continued his involvement as a head coach to insure that volunteers were giving boys and girls a total hockey experience.  Whether it was tying skates, raising funds, flooding the rink or serving hot chocolate to kids chilled by the winds from Lake Winnebago, Galloway was there to help nurture and grow the sport.  He used his leadership abilities to not only teach players to skate, pass and check, but to use the life lessons learned on the hockey rink to help them in their personal lives.

Galloway was employed at the Galloway Company in Neenah and retired as Chairman of the Board in 2000.  He was co-founder of the Trade Association of Proprietary Plants, and recipient of the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association Presidents Award in 2003.  Galloway was President of the Neenah-Menasha Chamber of Commerce from 1970-1971, and is a life long Neenah-Menasha Noon Optimist Member and Past  President.  He founded the Pram Sailing Program and the Swim with the Disabled Youth Program, both sponsored by the Optimist Club.  Galloway also served 12 years on the University of Wisconsin Board of Visitors.  He and his wife Peggy have six children – Karrie, Scott, Tim, Ted, Meg and Pat.