Ken Mickle was a devoted member and dedicated an extraordinary 65 years of service to our organization. Ken joined the club on April 1, 1954 and quickly became involved, serving on the Boys Work Committee during 1954–1955 and again in 1956–1957. His early leadership and enthusiasm earned him the Silver Award in 1956–1957 for sponsoring three new members.

Ken served as Club President in 1958–1959 and played a key role in helping establish the Wausau Club the following year. His contributions continued at the district level, where he served as Lieutenant Governor for Zone 1 in 1960–1961 and was honored as a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor in 1961–1962. He went on to serve as District Governor for 1962–1963, further demonstrating his commitment to the mission and growth of Optimist International.

In 1970, Ken chaired the Wisconsin District Convention, lending his leadership to one of the organization’s major annual events. Throughout his long and dedicated tenure, he remained actively involved in a wide range of Optimist activities, always working to advance the club’s goals and uplift the youth and communities it serves.