SKEMP, William F.

SKEMP, William F. (Bill) (Dubuque, IA, June 21, 1939--Dubuque, IA, July 28, 2018). The son of Frederick and Marie (Reinker) Skemp, Bill graduated from Holy Trinity Grade School (1953), LORAS ACADEMY (1957) and LORAS COLLEGE (1961). He attained his CPA certificate in 1963 while working as an accountant with Price Waterhouse in Chicago. He returned to Dubuque in 1964 to be an accountant with Telegraph Herald/Woodward Communications. He married Patricia Leonard on August 14, 1965 at St. Joseph's Church, Elkader, IA. (1)

In April of 1955 Bill worked as a newspaper carrier for Telegraph Herald. With the exception of his time with Price Waterhouse, he was associated with Telegraph Herald/Woodward Communications until May of 2012. During those fifty-nine years, he was a carrier, circulation clerk, sports reporter, accountant, treasurer, president/COO, secretary, vice chair, chair/CEO, and board member. (2) In 2004 Bill became the first non-Woodward family member to serve as chairman of the company's board since Fred W. WOODWARD acquired majority ownership in 1917. (3)

Bill served on the boards of a number of non-profit and charitable organizations during his career. He was active on the United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States for many years and served on a number of committees as well as being chair of the Board of Trustees. He also served on the following boards: DUBUQUE MUSEUM OF ART (treasurer); DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (president); GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (chair); Loras College National Alumni Board; DUBUQUE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS; JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND; Salvation Army Advisory Board; and the Little Cloud Girl Scouts Council (Treasurer). (4)

In addition to his service on the Loras National Alumni Board, Bill worked on the "Dubuque Appeal" and served as chair or co-chair of that fund-raising effort on two occasions. He enjoyed meeting with the Loras presidents on a regular basis to discuss Loras and its future. Bill was also active with other classmates in organizing the reunions for his Loras Academy class of 1957 every five years. His role was to keep track of addresses and to send out mailings and emails. (5)

---

Source:

1. Obituary, Dubuque Today, Online: http://www.dubuquetoday.com/obituaries.cfm#William%20F.%20Skemp

2. Hogstrom, Erik, "Longtime Woodward Executive Remembered for Wisdom," Telegraph Herald, July 30, 2018, p. 3A