Central Alumni Association Announces 2014 Inductees

The La Crosse Central Faculty and Alumni Association announce the 2014 Inductees into the Hall of Excellence:  Sandra Brekke and Robert Frise.  They will be honored at a reception on Friday, May 23, at the La Crosse Center prior to the commencement of 2014 graduates.


Sandra Brekke, a 1985 Central graduate, is the director of St. Clare Health Mission where she coordinates nearly 350 volunteers, including 70 doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners; 60 nurses, nursing students and nursing educators, 25 intake and social workers and various pharmacists, lab technicians, physical therapists and receptionists.  She earned her nursing degree from UW-Madison and has worked as a critical care nurse.  She currently is a member of the La Crosse Community Foundation, and in the past she has served as a member of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.   She has been involved in the organization and administration of the La Crosse Fitness Festival and the Got Energy Triathlon.  She is married to Eric, a surgeon, and has three children: Andrew, Hannah, and Sarah.



Robert Frise graduated from Central High School in 1952 and from UW-Madison with a degree in business.  From 1956 to 1959 he served as a pilot in the United States Air Force earning the rank of Lieutenant.    Following his military career he joined the family business, La Crosse Concrete Company.  He has served as president of the Wisconsin Concrete Pipe Association, the Wisconsin Ready Mix Association, the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, the La Crosse Builders Exchange and the Lutheran Hospital Board of Directors.  He served on the Board of Directors of Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo) for 27 years.  He owns several concrete businesses in the area, the La Crosse Truck Center, and River States Truck and Trailer, Inc.  He is co-owner of the Radisson Hotel in La Crosse. Through his hard work and efforts working with other community leaders, several projects were completed such as the redevelopment of the La Crosse Harborview area. He has been involved in charitable causes in the La Crosse community:  He was a founding member of Chileda and has given extensively to the La Crosse YMCA - North, English Lutheran Church, the Boys and Girls Club, the United Way, the Humane Society, UW-La Crosse stadium, and Sigma Chi Fraternity in Madison.  In 1957 he married Ruth Smevog (a Central graduate), and they have three children.