2021 Inductees

Bill Cary graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1953. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve and was discharged in 1956. Much of Bill’s life was spent as an educator. He taught for many years at Madison Memorial where he created and implemented programs into the chemistry and physics departments, which dramatically increased student enrollment in those courses. Over the years, he received many honors and awards for his efforts in the teaching profession. Most notable, being named in 1984 as a semi-finalist for the Shell Science Teaching Award presented by the Shell Oil Company and the National Science Teachers Association, which highlights teachers that have significantly impacted students through exemplary science teaching and learning. Bill has been published several times in educational journals. He impacted the lives of countless students throughout his career.

Thomas Weber is a 1967 graduate of Wisconsin Dells High School. He began his career in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service in Colorado as a soil scientist in 1972. As a conservationist, he worked in several states through the years including Minnesota, California, and New Mexico, where he directed activities to assist farmers and ranchers maintain and improve the natural resources on their lands. Tom held several national leadership positions at USDA-SCS national headquarters in Washington, D.C. They included Deputy Chief position for Programs, Science and Technology and Management. He served as Acting Chief for the agency in 1997 and retired in 2004 after 32 years of Federal as Associate Chief, the senior career official of the 12,000 employee organization.  Tom received many awards during his career. Among the most significant was the prestigious Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service in 2000. It is the highest award presented to career federal employees in the Senior Executive Service, the government's top cadre of career employees.

Tom Diehl’s tireless work ethic and steadfast determination have guided this community for decades. He and his wife, Margaret, relocated to Wisconsin Dells and in 1988, became sole owners of the Tommy Bartlett Show and Robot World and Exploratory. It was there where Tom became a mentor to countless employees, many of them WDHS graduates. Tom has been a well-respected voice in local and state government for many years. In 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the state of Wisconsin for his vision, leadership, and advancement of the tourism industry. A Village of Lake Delton board member since 1981, Tom has led this community through many challenges, including leading restoration efforts of Lake Delton after the lake breached in 2008. Recently, he was instrumental in creating the plan that provided $21.5 million of Premier Resort Tax towards the new Wisconsin Dells High School, a state-of-the-art facility that will educate our youth for decades to come.