Breitlow chosen as recipient of 2019 L-C Distinguished Alumni Award

LUXEMBURG, Wis. – Al Breitlow, a 1956 graduate of Casco High School who went on to spend nearly a half-century as an educator, primarily in Northeast Wisconsin, is the recipient of the 2019 Luxemburg-Casco School District Distinguished Alumni Award.

Each year, the Luxemburg-Casco School District recognizes a past graduate at its graduation ceremony, with the award winner speaking briefly. Among the criterion utilized in selecting the Distinguished Alumni Award are achievement in high school or beyond, community service and the ability to serve as an inspiration to L-C students. The 2019 commencement will be held May 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

“Al Breitlow is a shining example of what we hope our graduates will become,” says Luxemburg-Casco School District Superintendent Glenn Schlender. “After an exemplary academic and athletic career at Casco High, he went on to impact the community through almost 50 years in education. In retirement, he continues to do so as a sports official and through the telling of the story of the Green Bay Packers. We are proud to salute him with the Distinguished Alumni Award.”

Breitlow played four sports (football, basketball, track and baseball) at Casco (Wis.) High School. He also was a class officer and Homecoming King, along with president of Future Farmers of America.

“I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Casco High,” says Breitlow. “The only thing better would have been that I could say I was a graduate of Luxemburg-Casco High! The communities of Casco and Luxemburg should be commended for the support they give to the students and the programs they offer.”

After his high school graduation Breitlow studied agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1960. He later earned a master’s degree in biology from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn. (1967), plus certifications in special education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (1968) and educational administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1976).

Breitlow began a 49-year career in education at Lone Rock (Wis.) High School in 1960. He spent three years at the school, teaching biology and social studies, along with serving as head coach of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He moved to Southern Door High School in 1963, where he taught biology, advanced biology and coached sports for 13 years.

Beginning in 1975, Breitlow oversaw the Door County Handicapped Program, introducing Special Education into Southern Door High School. After getting the program off the ground, he moved into the Green Bay School District, serving as associate principal at Edison and Lombardi middle schools for the ensuing 24 years (1977-2000).

Breitlow concluded his career in education as the athletic director for all of the middle schools in the Green Bay School District from 2000-08.

He credits many individuals for having been instrumental in assisting him in earning the L-C Distinguished Alumni Award: his parents, his family, his wife and children, his teachers (specifically Mr. Majeski, Mr. Jilot, Mr. Sheffy and Mr. Giebel), and his college football coaches (John Barth and Butch Leitl).

Breitlow remains an active – and recognizable – member of the Northeast Wisconsin community. Breitlow has officiated football and basketball games at the high school and college levels. He also serves as a sideline official for practices of the Green Bay Packers.

His association with the Packers goes beyond the field. Breitlow has been a Lambeau Field tour guide for the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and also has given speeches about the Packers organization to area senior citizens and retired teachers.

In his free time, Breitlow enjoys reading sports autobiographies, fishing and spending time with family in Destin, Fla.

Breitlow and his wife, Karen, have two adult daughters, Laine Vigue (Paul) and Kyle Christopherson (Tyler), along with three grandchildren: Brady Vigue (13), Crosby Christopherson (11) and Harper Christopherson (9).