Gertie Awards
Each year since 1994, the Milwaukee Riverwalk District has awarded its Gertie Award to recipients from both the private and public sectors for their characteristics that are likened to that of Gertie the Duck.
The Gertie Award is named for the famed duck who survived on the Milwaukee River beneath Wisconsin Avenue against all odds. In 1945, the mallard was perched on top of river pilings in her nest, protecting her eggs. As she waited for her eggs to hatch, she gained attention from Milwaukeeans. Her popularity garnered her a personal guard, she received thousands of Mother’s Day postcards and letters and was visited by more than 100,000 people.
Gertie Award Winners are nominated and chosen by the Milwaukee RiverWalk District Board of Directors and are presented annually.
Read more about Gertie:
Why This Mallard Duck Statue Is a Must-see Stop on Any Trip to Milwaukee
by Jennifer Prince
April 2022
Past winners include:
- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
- Steve Costello, President, Bradley Center
- Russ and Jim Klisch of Lakefront Brewery
- Dr. Eckhart Grohmann of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Grohmann Museum
- Barry Mandel of The Mandel Group
PAST AWARD WINNERS
202
2022
2021
Jerry Geyer, Pirate's Cove Diving & Jerry's Docks
Milwaukee Downtown Ambassadors
2020 - N.A.
2019
Alderman Jose Perez, City of Milwaukee
Karen Dettmer, Milwaukee Water Works
Menomonee Valley Partners
2018
Alderman James Bohl, City of Milwaukee
Captain Scott Casssavant, Milwaukee River Skimmer, Veolia Water
Will Bott, Outreach Coordinator & Coach, Milwaukee Rowing Club
2017
Alderman Nik Kovac, City of Milwaukee
Debra Patti
Beth Handle, Milwaukee Kayak Company
2016
Barry Mandel and The Mandel Group
Mike Loughran, DPW, City of Milwaukee
William Florescu and The Florentine Opera
Suzy Wood, Grucon group
2015
Wells Fargo Bank Wisconsin
Milele Coggs, 6th District Alderwoman, City of Milwaukee
2014
Dr. Eckhart Grohmann, The Grohmann Museum
Drs. Robert & Patricia Kern, Kern Family Foundation
Rocky Marcoux, City of Milwaukee - DCD
2013
Gary Witt, Pabst Foundation
Paul Upchurch, Visit Milwaukee
Ghassan Korban, Commissioner DPW
2012
John Noel, Compass Properties
Alyssa Remington, City of Milwaukee - DCD
2011
Steve Costello, Bradley Center
David Neville, Beer Capitol Distributing
Dr. Hermann Viets, Ph.D., MSOE
2010
Michael Cudahy, The Endeavors Group
Marsha Mather, Laacke & Joys
Michael Wisniewski, DCD (presented posthumously to his wife, Linda Heiderer)
2009
Bruce Block, Wisconsin Preservation Fund
Alderman Robert Baumann, City of Milwaukee
2008
Debra Usinger, Usinger's Famous Sausage
Whitney Gould
Chris Abele
2007
Sue Black, Milwaukee County Parks Dept.
Gary Ahrens (Rep.), Milwaukee Rowing Club
Marsha Sehler
Tom Miller
2006
Mayor Tom Barrett
Manpower
Ed Mordy
2005
Nancy O'Keeffe, Historic Third Ward Association
Dick Wright, Historic Third Ward Assocation
Mark Warhus, Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation
Dale Ruczika, Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors
Steve Johnson (Retired), Miller Brands
2004
Paul Melotik, Water Street Tavern Restaurant Assoc.
Tom Bolger, M&I Bank
Ald. Marvin Pratt (Retired), City of Milwakuee
Ed Hanrahan, Hanrahan & Associates
2003
Paul Mathews, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
RBC Dain Rauscher
2002
Mark Irgens, Irgens Development
Bill Orenstein, Ivory Tusk
2001
Russ & Jim Klisch, Lake Palm Garden
Russ Davis, Café Vecchio & Riverboat Rentals
Ken Kay
2000
Ald. Marlene Johnson, City of Milwaukee
Mike Bartels, Bartels Management, Inc.
1999
Tom Bernacchi, Towne Realty
Shel Lozoff, Polacheck
Jack MacDonough, Miller Brewing
1998
Supervisor Sheila Aldrich, Milwaukee County
Eppstein-Uhen Architects
1997
Jim Kaminski, Dept. of Public Works
Mike Morgan, Dept. of City Development
1996
Jack Weissgerber, Weissgerber Restaurants
Ald. Paul Henningsen, City of Milwaukee
Westown Association
1995
Gerald Fogelson
Timothy Hoeksema, Midwest Airlines
1994
Mayor John Norquist, City of Milwaukee
Robert Bell, John Hawks Pub