Daily Pioneer News

University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Paul Hemmer is vice president and on-air personality for Radio Dubuque and has been in the radio business so long he can remember playing classic rock when it was brand new on 45 rpm or 12" long play vinyl albums.

In addition to his role as radio businessman and on-air personality, Hemmer is the bandleader for The Paul Hemmer Swing Band which is performing a series of shows at the Grand Opera House in Dubuque this summer. He has also written orchestral charts for the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra pops series, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and is currently working on a revival of a musical comedy, "Joe Sent Me!" which he co-wrote and hopes to produce in Dubuque in 2007. In the community, he has been active in the Dubuque Rotary Club for nine years and created SwingFest and Rock n Soul Reunion, events which are popular summertime attractions.

Hemmer said in 1962 he was first drawn to the Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology at Platteville, later to become UW-Platteville, because of the growing reputation of the music department.

He had already begun his career in radio while in high school, but said UW-Platteville was an invaluable addition to his life. He had a keen interest in composition and arranging which William Dennis, music department chairperson, and W.B. Tietze, director of bands, helped him cultivate. Hemmer said the department put his announcing abilities to use by having him write and announce scripts for band tours and other programs on campus. "All of these positive experiences taught me things which I've used throughout my numerous business and civic positions during the past 38 years," Hemmer said.

From Hemmer's perspective, UW-Platteville's new Tri-State Initiative is a great opportunity for Iowa and Illinois students to get the same mentoring and personal attention he found so valuable over 40 years ago. "Platteville provided the music education I wanted and closeness to home. Based on what I saw not only in the classroom but in real and very practical experiences, UW-Platteville was a great education value. From my observation and personal experience with present faculty, the same caring, nurturing attitude remains at UW-Platteville in 2005. Iowa and Illinois students would benefit from the proximity of UWP combined with an excellent faculty, strong academic programs, great physical plant, and the safe and secure nature of a small Wisconsin community," Hemmer said.

Anyone interested in finding Hemmer on the dial should tune into KGRR 97.3 or view the website atwww.kgrr.com. Anyone interested in learning more about UW-Platteville's Tri-State Initiative may go to www.uwplatt.edu/admission/tristate/index.

Contact: Kim Schmeltz, UWP Foundation, (608) 342-1182,crippesk@uwplatt.edu Prepared By: Evelyn Martens, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, martense@uwplatt.edu