Lenor Zeeh (BS ’36 Pharm)

Seventy-five and Going Strong

Seventy-five years ago, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor’s love of the outdoors and skiing sparked the beginning of an organization that would be credited with making skiing one of the most popular sports in the state of Wisconsin.

It was Dr. Harold C. Bradley, chair of the department of physiological chemistry and a very involved member of the Wisconsin Union Council, who would gather together friends and colleagues to enjoy outdoor activities.

Porter Butts (’24 BA L&S, ’36 MA L&S), was the new director of the Memorial Union and a close associate of Doc Bradley’s. The two wanted to share the outdoor experiences they enjoyed with students. This led to the founding of Hoofers, the University’s outdoor recreation club in 1931.

“My dad was an evangelist for the wilderness” said Richard Bradley, Doc Bradley’s son.

One of the Hoofers earliest achievements was finding a source of ski equipment from the Dartmouth Outing Club, which was thriving in New Hampshire. The name “Hoofers” was derived from an example at Dartmouth, where members were “heels.” Hoofers signified that students had to go there under their own power or “on the hoof,” which inspired the horseshoe as an emblem and symbol of good luck in every adventure.

Sailing and other activities were then offered and Hoofers flourished. When the Union theater was built in 1939, Hoofers was allocated space in the basement, which had a ramp with which to ease gear out of the building. Students soaked up the opportunity to learn news skills, meet others with similar interests and take on leadership roles in the activities.

Hoofer alumnus Hans Hopf (’49 BA L&S), Redding, Connecticut, so respected and admired Dr. Bradley as his faculty advisor that he has established the Dr. Harold C. Bradley Award and the Hoofer Leadership Awards in his memory to recognize outstanding leadership qualities among student Hoofers. Justin Dietz (x ’06 BS BUS) is the first recipient of the Dr. Harold C. Bradley Leadership Award.

“I’ve learned how to work in a group outside of the classroom setting, deal with different people’s personalities and learned how to manage a team,” said Justin of his Hoofers involvement.

Today, there are more than 100 student leaders coordinating activities for over 2,200 current club members and hundreds more University students, faculty, staff and youth. Hoofers now includes six outdoor clubs: ski and snowboard, sailing, mountaineering, riding, scuba, and outing (hiking, biking, camping, caving, kayaking, canoeing, cross-country skiing and more). The Wisconsin Union Facilities Improvement Plan includes expansion of Hoofer lakefront presence and improved program and activity space.

“We’re still crammed in the same spaces that were wonderfully built for Hoofers in 1939, with Doc Bradley and Porter Butts’ leadership,” said Jim Rogers (’82 BS L&S, ’92 MS CALS), Hoofer Advisor/Outdoor Program Coordinator. “Our alumni miss the wood burning fireplace in the Hoofer Lounge, but the building is evacuated much less frequently due to smoke setting off fire alarms and the ceiling is now fixed so Rathskeller beer no longer drips through.”

Hundreds of Hoofers past and present will gather August 4-6, 2006 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Hoofers.