Southern Door, Wis. (October 11, 2021) – Southern Door County School District will hold its Eighth Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 9:30 am in a virtual ceremony. The district will honor Stewart Fett (Class of 1972) and Jim Wautier (Class of 1977). These honorees were selected as outstanding role models as Southern Door graduates who have made significant contributions in their careers and community. The ceremony provides an opportunity for the honorees to be recognized by the community. Honorees also provide words of advice to the high school students as they prepare to be college, career, and community ready.
Jim Wautier (Class of 1977)
Upon graduation from Southern Door High School, Jim chose to dedicate his career to working on Church-Site Farm, a more than a century old, small family farm that has been passed from generation to generation. His many talents have been put to use as he serves as an ambassador for promoting the culture of farm life, its importance in our global economy, and helping others understand current farming trends.
The Wautier farm is known throughout the state and nationally for its quality of breeding and line of registered animals. While choosing farming may not have been the “popular” choice or the “easy” path, Jim has made it his life, and is the glue that holds the farm and the family together. Involved with 4-H as a young child, he shows animals at both the Door County and Wisconsin State Fairs.
For many years, Jim has had the role of Dairy Superintendent at the Door County Fair. In 2017, Church-Site Farm received the Century Award for 100 years at the Wisconsin State Fair and in 2018, Jim and his wife, Penny were Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year.
Wautier has had a significant impact on his community. In his early days he served as a basketball coach at Southern Door and has been a long-standing member of the Athletic Booster Club. He is very involved in his church and has served for decades as an usher. For over thirty years, Wautier has been active member of the B.U.G. (Brussels-Union-Gardner) volunteer fire department, where he has been the Assistant Fire Chief for decades. The Wisconsin American Legion honored him with their Outstanding Firefighter Award and the Door-Kewaunee County Fire Association named him Firefighter of the Year. He was a first responder for South County Rescue. Wautier has been an active member of the Brussels Lions Club for over thirty years, including serving as President several times. He organizes the Belgian Day parade and can be found from early in the morning until late at night making sure the festival’s needs met. He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, which is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with Lionism.
He is always going above and beyond to meet the needs of others. In her nomination of Mr. Wautier, Polly Alberts said, “Jim has led in a quiet way, by actions to show his children and the community about the important things in life. His dedication generates a feeling of awe, respect, and thankfulness, that ink will not adequately reflect.”
Mr. Wautier’s leadership has made a difference for farmers and citizens of our community. It is our honor to welcome 1977 Southern Door graduate Jim Wautier as a member of the Class of 2020-21 in the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame.
Stewart Fett (Class of 1972)
After graduation, Fett obtained an Accounting Associate Degree from NWTC. After nine years of experience and education as an Electrician at Bay Shipbuilding learning his trade on the job, he became an Electrical Planner and Foreman for a couple of years at an East Coast shipbuilding firm. He then returned to Bay Shipbuilding, where he worked to advance innovation in the marine industry by inventing new shipboard electronic systems that are in use today.
Back at Bay Shipbuilding, he received successive promotions to various management positions including Superintendent, Outfitting Superintendent, and finally Production Manager. In this last position he was a key member of the business leadership team overseeing all other superintendents, was responsible for over a thousand production employees, and oversaw all product manufacturing including ship construction, repair, and conversion.
After retiring in August 2019, Fett stated his own business, TNS Marine Services. This new venture has allowed him to continue to serve the industry and clients that he had the privilege to know throughout his career. Even though Fett had significant responsibilities in his career, his advocacy for serving his community is evidenced by his service to many community organizations. He was elected to 3 terms on the City of Sturgeon Bay Common council and also served as President for two years. For the past 14 years, he has served as President of the Sturgeon Bay Utilities Commission.
Civic engagement is also evidenced through his involvement with the Lions Club, Jaycees, and Learning in Retirement. At his church, he has served on the Parish Board, as Eucharistic Minister, Usher, and Lay Community Server. He has volunteered untold hours to help the youth and underprivileged in the community through organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Door county, Orchard Valley Apartments, Loaves & Fishes, and Habitat for Humanity.
Fett’s community service has been previously recognized by many, with the most recent being the Stewards of Safe Waters Award, the WPPI Energy Community Service Award, and the Sturgeon Bay Police and Fire Departments’ Dedicated Service Award. In his nomination of Mr. Fett, Bill Chaudoir said, “While Stewart had significant responsibilities in his career, he always found time and made a lifetime commitment to helping his community. His career achievements and his community commitments are a are deserving of this great Southern Door award.”
Mr. Fett’s business expertise and community service have made a difference to many individuals in Door County. It is our honor to welcome 1972 Southern Door graduate Stewart Fett as a member of the Class of 2020-21 in the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame.
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