Donor Stories
Bob and Marilyn Worth
The Worth Family may be well known for the Worth
Manufacturing Company, which produces fishing tackle components for tackle
manufacturers, but UWSP alumni Robert (Bob), and Marilyn Worth are also known
for their philanthropy and volunteerism.
Bob and Marilyn have endowments and scholarships in
their names such as, the Robert Worth Jazz Percussion Scholarship and the Robert
& Marilyn Worth Jazz Ensemble Fund. They are also supporters of the UWSP
Natural History Museum, College of Natural Resources, Central Wisconsin
Environmental Station, Music Department, Communications Department, and Drama
Department. In addition, Bob has been the chair of Central Wisconsin
Environmental Station (CWES) Advisory Committee for many years. In fact, Bob
was pivotal in the university’s decision to purchase the CWES property. Thirty
years ago, he spoke to then Chancellor Lee S. Dreyfus about purchasing the
property. The rest, we shall say, is history
A past president of the UWSP Foundation Board, Bob is
now an Emeritus Board member, and is an active participant. He was previously
honored with the 1982 UWSP Distinguished Alumnus award and the 2002 Hansen
Distinguished Service Award. Bob and Marilyn’s son David Worth also received
the UWSP Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005.
Bob and Marilyn stay active volunteering within their
community. Marilyn, who has volunteered for many years throughout the
community, said, “One of the things about volunteering is that you meet so many
wonderful people. You meet people who become your friends forever.” Marilyn
also has a soft spot in her heart for the University Museum. She has
volunteered at the museum and has served on the museum board for 10
years.
The Worth company also supports the university by
creating several endowments and scholarships. Among those are the Worth Company
Fund for the College of Natural Resources, Worth Fisheries Endowment, Worth
Communication Endowment, and Worth Jazz Development Scholarship.
The Worths emphasize that UWSP allows people in this
community to see and do things that may not have been otherwise available, such
as concerts and other university events.
Their advice to others: “Just get involved! Work
with the university in any way you can.”