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Donald A. Tilleman
(1919-1972)
1965 -1972
Don Tilleman was born February 23, 1919 in Green Bay. He was the son of Antone and Anna Mary Tilleman. He attended SS. Peter and Paul Grade School and graduated St. Norbert High School.
In 1940, he married Jane Steele in Reno, NV. They had seven children, Mark, Janet, Joseph, Mary, James, Joan and Carol Ann.
Don was first elected mayor as a two- year term in 1965, defeating incumbent Roman P. Denissen. Tilleman had challenged Denissen in 1963 but lost by 1,200 votes.
The bricklayer's son twice ran unsuccessfully for alderman before being elected in 1951. He served in the 9th ward for twelve years, holding a variety of city committee posts.
In 1967, after the mayor's term was changed to four years, he defeated Denissen for a second time. He won a third term (second four-year term) in the spring of 1971, defeating businessman Thomas Atkinson.
A basically shy man, he reluctantly climbed the ladder of responsibility in state affairs. He was a moving force and one of the founders of the Alliance of Cities, an organization seeking betterment for urban areas. He was President of the Alliance at the time of his death.
He was involved in the establishment of the present University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus, the Mason Street Bridge, and the downtown urban renewal.
Tilleman died on November 27, 1972 at age 53 in New York City while on city business regarding the downtown urban renewal. Accompanying him were his wife, Jane; John M. Rose, President of Kellogg Citizens National Bank; a member of the city's Redevelopment Authority; and John Yuenger of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Donald A. Tilleman is buried in Allouez Cemetery.
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The bridge at night. The lighting was a contribution by Georgia Pacific Paper Company in 1999 for three downtown bridges as its gift to the community |
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University Wisconsin - Green Bay on the City's northeast side. |