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History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Main Street Bridge named for Joe Ready
"Hey Joe" was a familiar call Saturday morning at the 18th annual Riverfest celebration as Joe Ready made his way to the band shell stage to be honored for his many years of service to the community.
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The Main Street bridge will be known as Joe Ready bridge for the next year. Ready, left, was recognized at Riverfest Saturday afternoon for his many years of service to the community. Ready's name will be engraved on a plaque near the bridge. Bestowing the honor was Riverfest Chairman Tom Schultz. (John Hart/Daily Times) |
The Main Street bridge will be known as Joe Ready bridge for the next year. Ready, left, was recognized at Riverfest Saturday afternoon for his many years of service to the community. Ready's name will be engraved on a plaque near the bridge. Bestowing the honor was Riverfest Chairman Tom Schultz. (John Hart/Daily Times)
Watertown's Main Street bridge will be named after Ready for the next year.
"I thank God and every one of you for being here," Ready told the crowd. "My birthday was a week ago and this is another birthday present," he added. "Thank you and God bless America."
Ready, 86, said the honor was a surprise to him. He was not aware of the honor to be bestowed upon him until the day before the announcement.
"He deserves it for his many years of service," his son Mike said, who was one of many who nominated the Watertown native for the honor.
Ready recalled serving on the city's common council when the bridge was named in honor of Evelyn Rose. Ready had the honor of naming the bridge after Rose in 1983.
"He is no stranger to the good people of Watertown," Riverfest Chairman Tom Schultz said in making the announcement before the SUPERband took to the stage for its rendition of Woody Herman and his orchestra tunes. "He has been involved in the community for well over half a century," Schultz added.
Ready has been a Dodge County supervisor for more than 50 years, only missing one half day of a meeting in that long span. He has served or been chairman of numerous committees and commissions and is respected by his colleagues.
"The name of Joe Ready was submitted by a number of people, each with a different view of why he should be selected," Schultz said.
Ready also served 20 years as an alderman on the Watertown Common Council, is a past president of the common council and served in other areas of local government service, one nominee wrote.
Another person wrote, "Joe has been a dedicated servant for the citizens of Watertown and Dodge County for over half a century. He always keeps Watertown in his heart."
"It was for his overall commitment to the citizens of Watertown and his many years of volunteer work that the committee has selected Joe for this honor," Schultz said.
Following is a list of people who were honored by having the bridge named after them:
River Days
1982 William Connor
1983 Evelyn Rose
1984 Dr. Louis Nowack
1985 Raymond Dobbratz
1986 Myra McInnis
Riverfest
1987 Dr. Robert Liners
1988 E. James and Katherine J. Quirk
1989 Rolland Freitag
1990 Mary Connor
1991 Robert Krueger
1992 Daniel Brandenstein
1993 Rev. M. Fred Himmerich
1994 Larry Schultz
1995 John Model
1996 Bobby Maas
1997 John Wanke
1998 Larry Mistele
1999 Richard Block
2000 Richard Minning
2001 Clarence Mess
2002 Dr. William "Bill" Ehlinger
2003 Chris Huhti
History of Watertown, Wisconsin