Richard and Mary Kay Burgermeister

Rick, a Milwaukee native, attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 1965 to 1969, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a comprehensive major in Business Administration/Economics and a minor in Journalism. He was actively involved in campus life, serving as advertising manager and managing editor of the Exponent, participating in student government, and joining the Delta Sigma Phi social fraternity.

One of the most significant moments of Rick’s college years came in 1968 when mutual friends introduced him to Mary McCann in the student center. They married in May 1970 at St. Mary’s Church in Mary’s hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin, and welcomed their son, Gregory, in 1977.

Following graduation, Rick built a distinguished career in field sales with the Falk Corporation of Milwaukee, a manufacturer of industrial mechanical power transmission equipment for heavy industry worldwide. Over the course of his career, Mary and Rick lived in Milwaukee, Portland, Denver, Charleston, and Aurora, Illinois. Rick retired as Director of Sales in 2004.

Both Mary and Rick are lifelong Alumni Association members, with Rick serving on the Alumni Association board for six years. They remain actively engaged with the university through regular attendance at campus and alumni events.

Mary and Rick credit their UW-Platteville experiences with significantly influencing their personal development and preparing them for successful futures. They feel enriched by the first-rate education they received in an environment that nurtured individual growth.