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La Crosse attorney was both intrigued and a little worried.
“Wow,” Collins recalled thinking, “this must be some sort of legal problem, with a couple of festmas-ters in here.”
Legal jargon filled the room as Collins fielded questions from Dewald and Quillin.
Then came the bombshell — would Collins serve as the 2006 festmaster?
Collins said it took months for the news to actually sink in.
“I was thrilled for Terry,” said his Frau, Karolyn Noel Collins. “It’s very appropriate, just right for Terry.”
The formal announcement was made Friday night at the Festmaster’s Ball at the La Crosse Center.
“I didn’t think the day would come. It’s still surreal,” Collins said.
As Festmaster, Collins will represent Oktoberfest throughout the year at parades and other events.
This week, there will be people to meet, he said, and kisses to distribute.
Luckily, his frau isn’t the jealous type.
“It’s all part of it,” she said. “It’s a wonderful part of being friendly.”
While active in the community and a frequent Oktoberfest celebrator, Collins is new to the festival’s inner workings.
He said his family has long enjoyed the Maple Leaf Parade and visiting the North Side festgrounds for music after the Torchlight Parade. Karolyn said they’ve also participated in the Oktoberfest Road Races.
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
Meet the festmaster
Name: Terry Collins
Age: 59
Hometown: La Crosse
Family: Wife, Karolyn Noel Collins; daughters, Mary Beth, Anna and Julie; grandchildren, Peter and Madeline Collins Conowall.
Education: 1965 Central High School graduate; 1974 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate; and 1977 UW Law School graduate.
Military Service: U.S. Air Force, 1965 to 1969.
Professional Experience: Collins, Quillin & Knothe, Ltd., 1977 to 2004; Johns, Flaherty & Collins, 2004 to present.
Public Service: Former Meals on Wheels board member; UW-L Foundation Board member; legal counsel to the UW-L Foundation Board; UW-L political science instructor; vice chairman, La Crosse Historical Preservation Commission; co-chairman, La Crosse Comprehensive Plan Committee; Coulee Region RSVP board member; Chancellor’s Community Council member; former president of La Crosse County Bar Association and bar association truancy mentor; volunteer assistant baseball coach at Central High School
Awards: UW-L Chancellor’s Award
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