Somerset Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Bryan Witzmann (Athletics)

Bryan Witzmann

  • Somerset Class of 2008, NHS Member

  • 2008 Wisconsin High School All State Offensive Line Member–Football

  • 2008 Wisconsin High School Honorable Mention all State Defensive Line–Football

  • 2008 Middle Border Conference Most Valuable Player–Football

  • 2008 High School 1st Team All Conference–Basketball

  • Collegiate Member of Chi Epsilon–Civil Engineering Honor Society

  • 2011 Collegiate Honorable Mention All Conference–Football

  • 2012, 2013 Collegiate First Team All Conference–Football

  • 2013 All-American, Football Championship Subdivision–Football

  • 2013 Graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Civil Engineering

  • 2023 MBA from Indiana University

  • National Football League Starter for the Kansas City Chiefs (2017) and Chicago Bears (2018)

  • Member of 2020 Super Bowl Qualifying Kansas City Chiefs

  • NFL Player for the Houston Texans (2014-2015), New Orleans Saints (2015-2016), Dallas Cowboys (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2016-2018, 2020-2021), Minnesota Vikings (2018), Chicago Bears (2018), Miami Dolphins (2019), Carolina Panthers (2019), and Atlanta Falcons (2021).

Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Jacob Bell (Military Service)

  • Somerset Class of 1999 (Class Salutatorian)

  • Served in Jordan (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM–2002), Iraq (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM– 2003, 2007, 2009), Lebanon (2010), Jordan (2013), Oman (2013), Saudi Arabia (2014/15/17), Turkey (2016), Syria (Operation INHERENT RESOLVE–2018)

  • Graduate of U.S. Army Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical & Tactical Certification Course–2012

  • B.S. from Norwich University–2014

  • Retired From Military With Rank of Chief Warrant Officer–2021

  • Bronze Star Medal x2, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal x2, Joint Service Commendation Medal x2, Army Commendation Medal x5, Army Achievement Medal x6, Meritorious Unit Citation x3, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal x4, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/4 Campaign Stars, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon x2, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge

Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Harold Rivard (Community)

  • Born February 19, 1941

  • 1962 married Theresa Germain and had five sons who all participated in athletics and graduated from Somerset 

  • 4-year football player at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • 1962 All-Conference football player

  • 1963 Graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with an Education Degree

  • 1966 Named to All-League Football Squad representing Sheboygan Red Wings semi-pro team

  • 1970-1995 Taught science to 5th and 6th grade students in Somerset school district

  • 1970-1988 Football coach for Somerset High School; 1975 team finished with an 8-1 record

  • 1970-1985 Coach of basketball, wrestling, track & field

  • 1986-1995 Junior High football coach, organizer of junior high wrestling tournaments

  • 1985 Co-founder of Somerset Memorial Scholarship Fund

  • 1998-2013 Served on the St. Croix Co-Op Electric Board

  • Co-created an oral history of Somerset for the Somerset Public Library

  • Co-authored book about prohibition in Somerset

  • Co-organized Old Timers Softball Tournament, with funds paying for Village Park Improvements

Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Bill Lawson (Business)

  • Somerset Class of 1964

  • 1950 Lawson family moved to Somerset

  • 1969 Graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with Engineering Degree

  • 1969-1971 Worked for 3M in the Central Research Group

  • 1972-1973 Active duty in US ARMY at TACOM (Tank & Automotive COMmand) in Detroit

  • 1973-1975 Attended University of Minnesota for graduate studies

  • 1975 Started Lawson, Lawson, & Associates

  • 1978 Started Laser Machining INC, the first business in Somerset Industrial Park

  • 1983 Became member of Somerset Chamber of Commerce

  • 1985 Became member of Laser Institute of America

  • 1986-1996 Member of Somerset School Board; helped create the new high school built in 1995

  • 1999 President of Laser Institute of America

  • 2006 Became member of Parks, Recreation, and Planning Commission for Somerset Township

  • Starting in 2017, major contributor to the Somerset Public Library expansion project

  • Awarded 15 Patents for products in laser technology and off-road vehicles

Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Camilla Parent Langness (Community)

  • Somerset Class of 1938

  • Valedictorian of Class of 1938

  • Attended University of Wisconsin River Falls--awarded teaching certificate 1940

  • Achieved Bachelor of Arts Degree 1978

  • Worked at Lockheed Cannon Defense Plant aircraft factory, Los Angeles, CA, during World War II

  • Returned to Somerset while husband Wes served in World War II

  • Taught at Banner School 1940-1941; Lakeside School 1941-1942; Sand Hill School 1947-1950.  

  • Substitute Teacher at Somerset Schools 1962-1972

  • Taught at St. Anne’s 1972-1992.  Retired at age 72.

  • President of PTA 

  • Secretary of Ladies of St. Anne’s; Member of St. Anne’s Funeral Committee

  • Volunteer at Veteran Affairs Hospital in Minneapolis

  • President of American Legion Auxiliary

  • Project Leader of 4-H Club

  • Somerset Senior Center Secretary, Treasurer, & Creator of Intergenerational Program

Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Jennifer Hansen-Hecht (Athletics)

  • Somerset Class of 1992

  • 1990 State Track:  100 M. Dash (8th), 400 M. Relay (2nd), 800 M. Relay (2nd)

  • 1991-92 Conference Champion, State Qualifier--Long Jump, 400 Meter Relay

  • 1990 Junior Olympic Gymnastics National Champion

  • 13 Time All-American Gymnast at the University of Kentucky

  • Winner of Eight NCAA Gymnastics Individual Championships 

  • First Woman to Win Three Straight NCAA All-Around Titles

  • 1994 Named Top Female Amateur Athlete In The Nation 

  • 1996 Olympic Torch Bearer

  • 1998 Entrant into Guinness Book of World Records For Most Individual Gymnastics Championships Won In A Career (8)

  • 2006 Named Most Outstanding NCAA Gymnast of Past 25 Years

  • 2013 Named SEC Legend:  Kentucky Gymnastics, 1993-96

  • After graduation, Hansen took a job in her field of animal science and although she enjoyed it, she wanted something more. Her next step was to pursue a career in entertainment where she performed in some shows, including stunt-double work for Make It or Break It, the television sitcom. 

  • She currently lives in Colorado and works for the tv show “American Ninja Warrior.”

Dean Martell (Athletics)

  • Somerset Class of 1967

  • Four  Time Conference and Sectional Champion--Mile  Run

  • Two-Time High School State Champion--Mile  Run (1966-67)

  • Ran Fastest Mile (4:19.6) In State Meet History, All Classes (A/B/C).  Class C Record Stood 7 years

  • 1966 All Conference, Football

  • 1966 Sectional  Champion, 4th Place Finish, State Cross Country Meet  

  • 1967 USTFF Indoor Track Meet Champion--Mile Run, Madison; Set Meet Record

  • 2016 Inducted Into Wisconsin Track  Coaches Association Hall of Fame

  • 1969 Big Ten Conference Champion, University Of Wisconsin--Three Mile Run (14:07; UW School Record)

  • 1969 All-Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Team

  • 1969 & 1970 Captain,  University of Wisconsin Cross Country  Team

  • Six Time Varsity Letter Winner, University of Wisconsin (Track, Cross Country)