Hank Aaron, others honor their teachers

Four prominent people with Milwaukee ties – including home-run king Hank Aaron – honored teachers who made a difference in their lives at the Gala Tribute to Teaching April 30.

The annual event is organized by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education.

Aaron, who played with the Milwaukee Braves and later with the Atlanta Braves, honored Joseph L. Kennedy, his longtime friend who grew up with Aaron in Mobile, Ala., and went on to a career in education in Milwaukee.

Kennedy, who earned his master’s degree in urban education in 1970 at UWM, began his teaching career in 1963 at Roosevelt Junior High School in Milwaukee. He later served as principal at four Milwaukee high schools. He is now retired.

Other honors were:

• Joseph L. Delgadillo, president and chief operating officer of M&I Data Services, honored his algebra teacher, the late Donald Wojczynski, who taught at Don Bosco High School.
• Karen M. Ordinans, chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, honored Henry Lex, her geography teacher at West Milwaukee High School.
• Timothy R. Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, honored Barbara J. Michaels, who was his kindergarten teacher in the Fox Point/Bayside School District.

Posted May 4, 1998