2006 Distinguished Service to the College

Philip Hendrickson

Although Phil Hendrickson is being honored for his service to St. Norbert College, he could just as easily be recognized for his many years of selfless service to the business world, to the greater community and to higher education in general.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in accounting, Phil devoted 56 months to active duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon his return, he earned an MBA from Harvard University. For 35 years, until he retired in 1985, Phil was associated with Green Bay’s Krueger Metal Products (now KI). During this time, he held several vital positions, including president, CEO and chairman of the board. Among his many contributions to the business world, Phil was a director of the National Association of Manufacturers; chairman of the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce; a director of Associated Bank, Nicolet National Bank, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, Bellin Hospital, Shopko, Midwest Specialty Products and UltraCare Products; and, in 1977, he was a member of Governor Patrick Lucey’s trade mission to China.

For these many contributions, Phil received the Green Bay Rotary Club’s Free Business Enterprise Award, the Wisconsin Distinguished Business Alumnus Award from UW-Madison, the UW-Green Bay Chancellor’s Award and, in 1996, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Norbert College.

Throughout their lives, Phil and his wife, Betsy, have been particularly sensitive to the needs of their community, and have been extraordinarily generous with their time and resources. Phil’s involvement in and on behalf of his community is varied, including being a director of the Green Bay Packers, director emeritus of Bellin Hospital Foundation, director of Encompass Child Care Foundation, advisory board member for Green Bay’s YMCA, past president and board member of the American Cancer Society in Green Bay, past director of the State Nature Conservancy Board, and past chairman of First United Methodist Church’s board of trustees in Green Bay.

Service to others epitomizes Phil’s entire life, but nowhere is this more remarkable than in his commitment to the education of people at all levels. A trustee emeritus of Bellin College, Phil has also served as a trustee and past chairman of St. Norbert College’s Board of Trustees. In addition, he is past president and director of the Wisconsin Board of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education, past regent of the University of Wisconsin board of regents, past director of the State of Wisconsin Higher Education aids board, and past member of the Allouez school board.

Both St. Norbert College and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay have benefited from Phil and Betsy’s generosity. At UW-Green Bay, for example, they established the Hendrickson Professorship for Business, an honor that recognizes faculty who help students understand the positive role of business and the importance of business ethics. At St. Norbert College, besides his many years of service on the board of trustees, Phil has actively helped with fund raising for the college, advocated the college’s needs, generously supported scholarships for St. Norbert students, and supported several building projects, such as the Bemis International Center’s dining room and the Campus Center.

Of his support for higher education, Phil says that, “the greatest room in the world is the room for self-improvement.” Of his own education, he says, “I will keep on exercising my mind.”