Somerset Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Bryan Witzmann (Athletics)
Somerset Class of 2009, NHS Member
2008 Wisconsin High School All State Offensive Line Member–Football
2008 Wisconsin High School Honorable Mention all State Defensive Line–Football
2008 Middle Border Conference Most Valuable Player–Football
2008 High School 1st Team All Conference–Basketball
Collegiate Member of Chi Epsilon–Civil Engineering Honor Society
2011 Collegiate Honorable Mention All Conference–Football
2012, 2013 Collegiate First Team All Conference–Football
2013 All-American, Football Championship Subdivision–Football
2013 Graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Civil Engineering
2023 MBA from Indiana University
National Football League Starter for the Kansas City Chiefs (2017) and Chicago Bears (2018)
Member of 2020 Super Bowl Qualifying Kansas City Chiefs
NFL Player for the Houston Texans (2014-2015), New Orleans Saints (2015-2016), Dallas Cowboys (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2016-2018, 2020-2021), Minnesota Vikings (2018), Chicago Bears (2018), Miami Dolphins (2019), Carolina Panthers (2019), and Atlanta Falcons (2021).
Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Jacob Bell (Military Service)
Somerset Class of 1999 (Class Salutatorian)
Served in Jordan (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM–2002), Iraq (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM– 2003, 2007, 2009), Lebanon (2010), Jordan (2013), Oman (2013), Saudi Arabia (2014/15/17), Turkey (2016), Syria (Operation INHERENT RESOLVE–2018)
Graduate of U.S. Army Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical & Tactical Certification Course–2012
B.S. from Norwich University–2014
Retired From Military With Rank of Chief Warrant Officer–2021
Bronze Star Medal x2, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal x2, Joint Service Commendation Medal x2, Army Commendation Medal x5, Army Achievement Medal x6, Meritorious Unit Citation x3, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal x4, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/4 Campaign Stars, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon x2, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge
Hall of Fame Class of 2022
Harold Rivard (Community)
Born February 19, 1941
1962 married Theresa Germain and had five sons who all participated in athletics and graduated from Somerset
4-year football player at University of Wisconsin-River Falls
1962 All-Conference football player
1963 Graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with an Education Degree
1966 Named to All-League Football Squad representing Sheboygan Red Wings semi-pro team
1970-1995 Taught science to 5th and 6th grade students in Somerset school district
1970-1988 Football coach for Somerset High School; 1975 team finished with an 8-1 record
1970-1985 Coach of basketball, wrestling, track & field
1986-1995 Junior High football coach, organizer of junior high wrestling tournaments
1985 Co-founder of Somerset Memorial Scholarship Fund
1998-2013 Served on the St. Croix Co-Op Electric Board
Co-created an oral history of Somerset for the Somerset Public Library
Co-authored book about prohibition in Somerset
Co-organized Old Timers Softball Tournament, with funds paying for Village Park Improvements
Hall of Fame Class of 2020
Bill Lawson (Business)
Somerset Class of 1964
1950 Lawson family moved to Somerset
1969 Graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with Engineering Degree
1969-1971 Worked for 3M in the Central Research Group
1972-1973 Active duty in US ARMY at TACOM (Tank & Automotive COMmand) in Detroit
1973-1975 Attended University of Minnesota for graduate studies
1975 Started Lawson, Lawson, & Associates
1978 Started Laser Machining INC, the first business in Somerset Industrial Park
1983 Became member of Somerset Chamber of Commerce
1985 Became member of Laser Institute of America
1986-1996 Member of Somerset School Board; helped create the new high school built in 1995
1999 President of Laser Institute of America
2006 Became member of Parks, Recreation, and Planning Commission for Somerset Township
Starting in 2017, major contributor to the Somerset Public Library expansion project
Awarded 15 Patents for products in laser technology and off-road vehicles
Hall of Fame Class of 2019
Camilla Parent Langness (Community)
Somerset Class of 1938
Valedictorian of Class of 1938
Attended University of Wisconsin River Falls--awarded teaching certificate 1940
Achieved Bachelor of Arts Degree 1978
Worked at Lockheed Cannon Defense Plant aircraft factory, Los Angeles, CA, during World War II
Returned to Somerset while husband Wes served in World War II
Taught at Banner School 1940-1941; Lakeside School 1941-1942; Sand Hill School 1947-1950.
Substitute Teacher at Somerset Schools 1962-1972
Taught at St. Anne’s 1972-1992. Retired at age 72.
President of PTA
Secretary of Ladies of St. Anne’s; Member of St. Anne’s Funeral Committee
Volunteer at Veteran Affairs Hospital in Minneapolis
President of American Legion Auxiliary
Project Leader of 4-H Club
Somerset Senior Center Secretary, Treasurer, & Creator of Intergenerational Program
Hall of Fame Class of 2018
Jennifer Hansen-Hecht (Athletics)
Somerset Class of 1992
1990 State Track: 100 M. Dash (8th), 400 M. Relay (2nd), 800 M. Relay (2nd)
1991-92 Conference Champion, State Qualifier--Long Jump, 400 Meter Relay
1990 Junior Olympic Gymnastics National Champion
13 Time All-American Gymnast at the University of Kentucky
Winner of Eight NCAA Gymnastics Individual Championships
First Woman to Win Three Straight NCAA All-Around Titles
1994 Named Top Female Amateur Athlete In The Nation
1996 Olympic Torch Bearer
1998 Entrant into Guinness Book of World Records For Most Individual Gymnastics Championships Won In A Career (8)
2006 Named Most Outstanding NCAA Gymnast of Past 25 Years
2013 Named SEC Legend: Kentucky Gymnastics, 1993-96
After graduation, Hansen took a job in her field of animal science and although she enjoyed it, she wanted something more. Her next step was to pursue a career in entertainment where she performed in some shows, including stunt-double work for Make It or Break It, the television sitcom.
She currently lives in Colorado and works for the tv show “American Ninja Warrior.”
Dean Martell (Athletics)
Somerset Class of 1967
Four Time Conference and Sectional Champion--Mile Run
Two-Time High School State Champion--Mile Run (1966-67)
Ran Fastest Mile (4:19.6) In State Meet History, All Classes (A/B/C). Class C Record Stood 7 years
1966 All Conference, Football
1966 Sectional Champion, 4th Place Finish, State Cross Country Meet
1967 USTFF Indoor Track Meet Champion--Mile Run, Madison; Set Meet Record
2016 Inducted Into Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame
1969 Big Ten Conference Champion, University Of Wisconsin--Three Mile Run (14:07; UW School Record)
1969 All-Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Team
1969 & 1970 Captain, University of Wisconsin Cross Country Team
Six Time Varsity Letter Winner, University of Wisconsin (Track, Cross Country)