By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD — Dozens of Marshfield community and business leaders turned out Sept. 6 to raise money for education scholarships and remember one of their own.

The 10th and final Fore Bill Golf Outing was held at RiverEdge Golf Course in memory of Bill Allen, who passed away 10 years ago this month.

His widow, Pat Allen, said a record 35 teams participated and raised money for scholarships, which will go to area students next spring.

“We have raised $114,000 through 2016,” said Pat.

Bill was a Marshfield native who spent his final few years working for the former Community Bank of Central Wisconsin after nearly 48 years at WDLB.

Among other things, Bill was a Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Red Coat Ambassador and was active in many community organizations and events over the years. He served on the Main Street Marshfield board of directors, the Marshfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, and was also a member of the Central Wisconsin State Fair Association, Elks Lodge 665, Marshfield Eagles Club, and a charter member of the Marshfield Area United Way’s Marsh Society. He also was involved in the National Farm Medicine Center’s Auction of Champions.

Last summer Bill was one of four Wisconsin broadcasters who were named Local Broadcast Legends by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. The award is presented to individuals who work behind the scenes to serve their communities.

Fundraiser changes hands

While the Fore Bill outing came to a conclusion, the fundraiser will continue on as the Fore Roger outing.

“We, the family of Roger Arnoldy and my coworkers at Marshfield Insurance, took it on because we saw it as an opportunity to help other families dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Nick Arnoldy, Roger’s son. “For 10 years individuals in our area supported a great cause — youth scholarships — in memory of an important Marshfield figure in Bill Allen.

“We felt that the tradition of the outing was already established, and we could build on that to serve another mission. I always wanted to honor my father, but the timing was never right. There are a lot of philanthropic functions that Marshfield supports, so adding another felt forced.

“Reading the letter Pat Allen wrote to the attendees of prior Fore Bill events, explaining 2017 would be the final year, it made sense to keep that tradition going and to serve another purpose. My coworkers, friends, and family are very motivated to help others dealing with the disease that afflicted Roger and to honor him. We couldn’t be happier to have Pat Allen and the Allen family’s blessing to do so.”

Roger moved to Marshfield in the late 1960s. After serving in the Vietnam War, Roger married and began a career in insurance. He opened what is now Marshfield Insurance in 1984. His sons, Ryan and Nick, later joined the business, which they now own.

Roger was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2010 and passed away two years later at the age of 63.