Foundation News

PLATTEVILLE- University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni Mike and Bernadette Routhieaux have established a new scholarship in honor of legendary coach Lester "Butch" Leitl.

The Coach Leitl Student Leadership Scholarship is available to any continuing student from Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa with a minimum of 30 credits completed and a declared major within the School of Agriculture. Students applying for the scholarship must also demonstrate leadership abilities within a team setting inside or outside the classroom and be involved in extra-curricular activities like organizations, clubs or sports. Applicants must also display a strong work ethic as shown by part-time employment either on or off campus.

The scholarship will be awarded annually and will offset the cost of tuition. The scholarship amount is $1,000 per year.

"This is my way of saying thanks for his support," said Mike Routhieaux, class of 1965. "Coach Leitl will always have a special place in my heart. I do believe there are people who influence who you eventually become. Coach Leitl had a real personality," added Routhieaux, who played football for Leitl. "His players had a real love for him. He had a great, very subtle sense of humor and had such appreciation for a win. You could meet 100 guys and forget 99 of them but you could never, never forget him."

This is not the first time Leitl has been honored. In November 2008, the Pioneers' football field was dedicated and named after him. In addition to the field naming, a Leitl scholarship was established by several former players at the time of Leitl's retirement from the university. Routhieaux's annual scholarship will add to the more than 130 scholarships that have been awarded in Leitl's name.

"It was a pleasure to work with Mike to set up this scholarship to honor Coach Leitl, a person Mike feels truly influenced his life," said Holly Kaiser, director of development at the UW-Platteville Foundation. "A great part of my job is working with alumni who desire to honor a former coach, professor or classmate by establishing a scholarship or fund in their name."

For more information about scholarship donations, contact Kaiser at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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