| Gov. Evers Order Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Former Wisconsin State Sen. Cullen |
| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #251 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Jan. 4, 2025, in honor of former Wisconsin State Sen. Tim Cullen, who passed away on Mon., Dec. 23, 2024, at the age of 80. “Former Sen. Cullen was a dedicated public servant who devoted much of his life to good governance and improving the state that raised him,” said Gov. Evers in a statement last week. “Sen. Cullen always fought for working families, gave back to and supported kids in the Janesville area, and advocated fiercely for nonpartisan redistricting and access to the ballot box during both his time in the Wisconsin State Senate and beyond it. He spent much of his life working to end partisan gerrymandering and fighting for Wisconsin to have fair maps at long last. There is no doubt our state is better off because of Sen. Cullen and his service. Kathy and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and all those who knew him.” Born in Janesville, former Sen. Cullen graduated from Janesville High School in 1962 and went on to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Former Sen. Cullen then served in the United States Army Reserve and briefly taught high school before being elected to serve on the Janesville City Council in 1970. Former Sen. Cullen later served four years as district director for U.S. Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wisconsin) before being elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1974, where he served the 15th Senate District until 1987, with five of those years serving as majority leader. In 1987, former Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed former Sen. Cullen to serve as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, and in 1988, he transitioned to the private sector, where he championed a career as vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin for two decades. After retiring from his position at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin in 2007, he was elected to the School District of Janesville Board of Education, and in 2010, he ran for and was elected to his former Senate seat, serving until his retirement in 2015. After his time in the Legislature, former Sen. Cullen advocated for causes he believed in, such as ending partisan gerrymandering, fighting for equal opportunities for kids, and more. Former Sen. Cullen also served on the board of Common Cause of Wisconsin for over two decades, serving as chair from 2018 until he stepped down in 2022. Services for former State Sen. Cullen will be held on Sat., Jan. 4, 2025, in Janesville. Executive Order #251 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Sat., Jan. 4, 2025, and is available here. The flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin will concurrently be flown at half-staff pursuant to Executive Order #249 and should remain so until sunset on Tues., Jan. 28, 2025. |
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #252 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Mon., Jan. 6, 2025, in honor of former Wisconsin State Sen. George Petak, who passed away on Tues., Dec. 24, 2024, at the age of 75.
“Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of Sen. Petak today,” said Gov. Evers in a statement last week. “Sen. Petak was a man of faith, courage, and principle. He truly had a servant’s heart, always leading with empathy and integrity to give back and do more for others. Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of Sen. Petak and offer our sincerest sympathies to his wife, kids, loved ones, and the many whose lives he touched.”
Former Sen. Petak was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1949 and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Kent State University in 1972. Former Sen. Petak was elected to the Racine Unified School District Board of Education in 1983 and served in various positions, including as treasurer, vice president, and president until 1990, when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate and represented the 21st Senate District. In 1994, former Sen. Petak won his reelection to the Senate and served until 1996. Sen. Petak famously cast the deciding vote to provide funding to build Miller Park—the home of the Milwaukee Brewers—now known as American Family Field. Following his time in the Senate, former Sen. Petak was appointed as deputy executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) by former Gov. Tommy Thompson and served there until 1998. From 2013 to 2016, former Sen. Petak served as an administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institution’s Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. Then, in 2016, former Sen. Petak returned to WHEDA and served as a senior business and community engagement officer until his retirement in 2020. In addition to his life of public service, former Sen. Petak also served as a volunteer, government consultant, and lobbyist.
Services for former State Sen. Petak will be held on Mon, Jan. 6, 2025, in Colorado.
