The late Arthur Masbruch
Arthur “Art” Masbruch grew up in Platteville, Wis, attended the Platteville Mining School and received his three-year Mining Certificate in 1949. His sister Esther McReynolds received her Elementary Education Certificate from Platteville State Teachers College in 1951. Prior to attending college, Masbruch was a tail gunner in the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of sergeant. Upon graduating, he began working in various construction companies and also kept up with one of his passions, downhill skiing.
Art was married to Evelyn Masbruch; she passed away on October 27, 2006. She received the highest award (Blegen Award) for the US Ski Association and the highest award (Halstead Award) for the Rocky Mountain Division of the US Ski Association. She was also a member of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame and an avid golfer.
Art was an avid golfer, skier, and square dance and has received numerous awards and honors for his achievements in these activities. Art was a pretty good skier, but always stated he couldn’t quite bet the Olympic skiers. Instead, Masbruch served as the technical delegate at high-caliber races for 15 years, serving as advisor for pre-race and race events. His skiing experiences helped him earn his first patent. In 1964, he patented a rescue sled for transporting injured people or loads over snow and ice-covered terrain.
The entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish his own concrete company, Art Ash Research and Training Co. in Denver. Masbruch encouraged his workers to challenge conventional wisdom. “Too many people go through their routine day after day without thinking about what they are doing,” he said.
Developing critical thinkers is one of the main reasons Masbruch established his scholarship, with annual awards of at least $5,000 each to students who achieve at least 2.75 grade-point averages and have demonstrated financial needs. Preferences will be given those who participate in extracurricular activities, hold down campus jobs, are Platteville High School graduates or are majoring in engineering. The Academic Excellence Fund will award fellowships of at least $5,000 for students working in the Masbruch Center. The Masbruch Center will allow for both hands-on experience in the field and theory work in the classroom.
Art was a generous supporter of UW-Platteville and has special interest in concrete research and testing and supporting students with financial need continue their education to become engineers. Masbruch’s combination of cash and estate gift actually became three large gifts, establishing the Masbruch Scholarship, beginning the Academic Excellence Fund, and starting the Masbruch Center that will benefit civil engineering students, especially those readying themselves for the concrete industry.
Masbruch believed it wasn’t important what he gained or what he had, it was important what he did with it. Masbruch passed award in 2023. UW-Platteville is fortunate to have as generous and supportive of an alumnus as Art Masbruch. His transformative gifts will impact UW-Platteville students, faculty and staff for years to come.