Legend Biography

The son of Norwegian immigrant parents, W.R. Sauey had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. In 1947, he started Flambeau, Inc. They started manufacturing the Halik Frog in 1947, waterfowl decoys in 1972, a full outdoors division in 1977, full body deer decoys in 1988, and in 1996 created Orna-Mates life-like outdoor replicas stemming from the decoy business. Building on his family’s and his people’s capabilities and starting with a $2000 loan and all the money his family could place back into the business, he managed to grow an international organization that now grosses over $300 million dollars per year.
Personal
Date of Birth: August 27, 1927
Military Service: U.S. Marines
Married: April 25, 1948 to Floy Anderson
Children: Craig, Alison, Pamela, Eric, Todd, Jason and Sonja
Education
University of Chicago, Masters Degree in Business Administration, 1972
Northwestern University, Business Administration Major
Harvard University, Business Management and Finance
University of Wisconsin, Numerous Seminars and Contribution Resource
American Management Association, Contribution Resource
American Manufacturing Association, Contribution Resource
Past and Present Civic Responsibilities
• Board and Presidents Council Trustee: Finlandia College (Hancock, MI)
• Director/Chairman Admission and Commitment Committee/Investment Committee Member, Suomi College
(Hancock, MI)
• Chairman/President, Nordic Group of Companies, Ltd. (Baraboo, WI)
• Chairman/Director, Columbia ParCar Corp. (Reedsburg, WI)
• Founder of Flambeau, Inc. – started manufacturing Halik Frog in 1947, production of waterfowl decoys in
1972, creation of Flambeau Outdoors division in 1977, entered full body deer decoy market in 1988, in 1996
created the OrnaMates life-like outdoor replicas stemming from decoy business, and in 2006 acquired the
Lohman, Circe, Big River, MAD, Kenvo and Feather Flex brands from Kolpin
• Chairman/Director, Flambeau, Inc. (Baraboo, WI, Sharon Center, OH; Madison, GA; Middlefield, OH;
Columbus, IN USA, Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico and Ramsgate, Kent United Kingdom)
• Chairman/Director, PACJETS Financial, Ltd. (Baraboo, WI)
• Chairman/Director, Seats Incorporated (Reedsburg, WI, Richland Center, WI, Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico)
• Chairman/Director, Snow Valley Mountain Resort (Running Springs, CA)
• Trustee, Wisconsin State Investment Board
• Advisory Board Member, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
• Director, National Association of Manufacturers
• Director, Baraboo Bancorporation, Inc. (Baraboo, WI)
• Chairman/Director/Co-Founder, Dot Hill Systems (NASDAQ)
• Director/Audit Committee, Work Recovery Inc. (NASDAQ)
• Director, Tri-County Community Board (Reedsburg, WI)
• Member: B.P.O. Elks (Baraboo, WI)
• Member: Wisconsin Citizen’s Conference on Judicial Organization
• Member/Past Director: Wisconsin Manufacturer and Commerce
• Advisory Council Member: Small Business Administration
• Treasurer, Young Presidents’ Organization, Wisconsin Chapter
• Member: World Presidents Organization
• Member: Society of Plastic Industry
• Founding Member/Various Chairmanships, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Baraboo, WI)
• Member: Torske Klubben
• Member: Sons of Norway
• Corporate Member: MSOE (Milwaukee, WI)
• Member: World Business Council
• Steering Committee Member, U.S. Senatorial Advisory Board
• State of Wisconsin Finance Committee Member (1956-2002)
• 3rd District Wisconsin Financial Chairman (2 years)
• Eisenhower Re-election Campaign Committee for Sauk County (1956)
• State of Wisconsin Republican Convention Delegate (1950 – Present)
• National Republican Convention Delegate (1960)
• 2nd District Wisconsin Delegate Nominee
• Sauk County Republican Chairman (1962-1966)
• Committee on Judicial Reform (1964-1966)
• Governor’s Committee on Higher Education (Former Governor Knowles)
• White House Conference on 1990 (1971)
• Consultant to U.S. Secretary of Transportation (1973)
• 2nd District Wisconsin Chairman, Republican Party of Wisconsin (1978-1982)
• National Republican Convention Delegate (1995)
• Recipient of Wisconsin Bovay Award (2012)
• Recipient of Wisconsin’s Prestigious Coles Bashford Award (2013)
Awards and Honors
• Served in the U.S. Marine Corps with Honorable Discharge (1945-1946)
• 1 of 5 Outstanding Young Men of Wisconsin, Jr. Chamber of Commerce (1962)
• Wisconsin Small Business Man of the Year (1972)
• Second District Republican Party of Wisconsin’s Patriot Award (1985)
• Master Entrepreneur of the Year (1990)