It’s impressive to be president of a major international manufacturing company thatemploys 1,300 people worldwide. It’s evenmore impressive when you’re only 34 yearsold, like Austin Ramirez, a new member ofour Platypus Circle. The Milwaukee residentbecame president and CEO of HUSCO Inter-national—a major global manufacturingcompany based in Waukesha, Wis. — in July 2011. HUSCO provides hydraulic andelectrohydraulic components for automobiles

The PlatyPress is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Circle. The Platypus Circle is composed of individuals, corporations and foundations who share our passion for supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo, conserving endangered animal species, and teaching

the importance of preserving wildlife and its natural environment. The PlatyPress is published two to four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. www.zoosociety.org

November 2012

and off-highway applications. Originally a subsidiary of Koehring/AMCA, HUSCO International wasbought out in 1985 by Ramirez’s father, Agustin, who continues to serve as executive chairman. It took Austin about 10 years at HUSCO to obtain his currentstation. He also has impressiveathletic and academic creden-tials. After graduating with adouble major from the Univer-sity of Virginia in systems engineering and economics,he earned an MBA fromStanford University in Cali-fornia. In 1998 he won agold medal for the UnitedStates in the World Aquat-ics Championships inPerth, Western Australia.His accomplishmentsearned him inclusion in the 2012 BusinessJournal of Milwaukee’s

“Forty Under 40” list of influentialyoung leaders. So why does he like the Milwaukee County Zoo and support the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)?

Like many people who grew up in southeast-ern Wisconsin, Ramirez has fond memoriesof visiting our Zoo. He remembers the unfor-gettable Samson, the Zoo’s most famous gorilla. He recalls riding the train. He also remembers his parents buying him Mold-A-Rama animal figures—but only if he was onhis best behavior. “Those were pretty coolfor a 6-year-old boy,” he says. Perhaps

because of his competitive swimming, Ramirezsays, “I love the underwater exhibits—I mustbe part fish. I could spend hours wanderingthrough all of the aquatic exhibits at the Zoo.I’ve also always loved dolphins, sharks and the fast, powerful fish.”

“The Zoo is a wonderful resource for our community and a favorite of our employees,”he says. “We have had several great companyevents at the Zoo and, since we became Platymembers in 2012, our three HUSCO ZooPasses have become a coveted and much-utilized perk for our 500 local employees, especially during the summer months.”

Although he’s a busy, globe-trotting business-man, Ramirez recently took his niece andnephew on a behind-the-scenes tour at theZoo. “They had a blast feeding the giraffes and getting behind the scenes in the big cat exhibit and feeding the fish,” he says. “It wasfun to see how much they enjoyed the Zoo.”Ramirez expects the Zoo to remain a big part ofhis life into the future. He and his wife, Heather,are expecting a baby. They look forward to enrolling the child in the ZSM’s ConservationEducation classes, which start as early as age 2.Ramirez, who’s on the boards of non-profitssuch as the United Performing Arts Fund andBoys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, believes in supporting groups that improve the quality of life in Milwaukee. To ensure thatthe ZSM and Zoo can continue to offer cutting-edge programs and exhibits, Ramirez joined the Platypus Circle. He thinks others should do so, too. “The Zoo is an important resourcefor our community and one that we all have a responsibility to help support.”

Zoological Society of Milwaukee CountyDevelopment Department1005 W. Blue Mound RoadMilwaukee, WI 53226(414) 258-2333

Please remember the Zoological Societyin your will or estate plan.

Jan. 24Puttin’ on the Ritz dinner and boxing fundraiser for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)*

Feb 7The ZSM’s Wines and Beers ofthe World evening fundraiser*

March 9The ZSM’s members-only tripto Chicago’s Field Museum;pre-register*

April 26Zootastic, a ZSM evening family event*

May 23Platypus/VIP premiere of theZoo’s special summer exhibit; invitations will be mailed.

June 22Zoo Ball evening fundraiser*

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Thom BrownDr. Robert DavisMary Ellen EneaKaren Peck KatzMaria Gonzalez KnavelJoe Kresl (chairman)Jack McKeithan Allen MartinDeborah MusanteJill PelisekTricia ShinnersJudy Holz StathasDave StrelitzJane Bush Wierzba

DEVELOPMENT STAFF

Karen Von Rueden, Vice President of Development

Kim Peterson, Senior Development Officer

Georgia Young, Development Assistant

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS

Paula Brookmire, editorZak Mazur, writerRichard Brodzeller, Photographer

(unless otherwise noted)

On the WebFor back issues of Platy Press

dating to September 2006, go towww.zoosociety.org/pubs/platypress.

*For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.

The annual Platypus Circle dinner is a way to honor majordonors to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM). Thisyear’s dinner, held Sept. 27 at the Milwaukee County Zoo, also marked the presentation of the ZSM’s highest award, the Emu Egg. Presented since 1982 to people who havegiven outstanding service to the ZSM, the award is a realemu egg encased in glass. Katherine Hust of U.S. Cellular(pictured at left/right) received the award for consistentmeritorious service and exceptional contributions and com-mitment to the ZSM. Hust began her relationship with theZSM in 2005 by becoming a Board member and Platypusmember. She held the vital role of Zoo Ball co-chair in 2009.Zoo Ball is the ZSM’s largest annual fundraiser. She has pas-sionately contributed to the ZSM education committee since2006 and has been instrumental in pioneering and nurturinga strong bond between the Zoological Society and U.S. Cellular for over nine years. Hust is U.S. Cellular’s vice president of sales for the mid-central region. The 2012Platypus dinner also recognized over 50 new members this year as well as those who celebrated their 25th year of Platypus membership (see page 2). Some of the new 25-year Platypus members are pictured here.

Platypus Recognition Dinner

printed on recycled paper 5445J12

Austin Ramirez

Photo provided by HUSCO International

Austin Ramirez: A Global View

By Zak Mazur

William Murgas,

a 25-year Platypus member

Elizabeth Gjenvick, a 25-year Platypus member

Lowell Warshawsky, a 25-year Platypus member

Jody and Jeffrey Steren, a 25-year Platypus member

Judy Van Till,

a 25-year Platypus memberDavid and Bonnie Sarandos

of Marshfield Labs,

a 25-year Platypus member

Katherine Hust

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:06 AM Page 1

“Spiders are our friends,” Sybil La Budde used to tell herdaughter, Gigi. And, to the consternation of her family, house centipedeswere a protected species, lauded as “beneficial predators in the home.” From her father, Samuel Graham, a pioneer in the study of forest insects,Sybil Graham La Budde learned the value of every part of an ecosystem,from bugs to trees. She put that knowledge to good use when she helpedfound the Zoological Society of Milwaukee's (ZSM's) volunteer auxiliary,Zoo Pride, in 1975. She went on to become Zoo Pride's second president and a member of the ZSM's Board of Directors. She was an early member of the Platypus Society, now called the Platypus Circle. In fact, this year she celebrated her 25th year as a Platypus member. Her support of the Zoological Society stretches back more than 60 years.

With sadness, we note that Sybil La Budde died on July 16, 2012, at the age of 89. She and her husband, George, were dedicated to conservation, the Milwaukee County Zoo and the ZSM until the end of their lives. Georgejoined the Zoological Society in 1940, was an active Board member from1946 to 1983, was ZSM president from 1954 to 1956, led a fundraising campaign for the Zoo’s move to Blue Mound Rd., and was still an honoraryZSM director when he died in 1990. Sybil stayed in Zoo Pride until the early1990s and continued attending Platypus events until a few years ago. Lastspring she called the ZSM office to note how much she enjoyed the Aprilissue of the ZSM’s Alive magazine. Her obituary mentioned her many volunteer hours at the Zoo. “I remember when I was in graduate school,

A Lifetime Conservationist

she’d be trundling off to the Zoo in her khaki outfit and giving tours,” recallsGigi La Budde, of Spring Green. She says her mom, who after graduatingfrom the University of Michigan worked as a corporate trainer for IBM for many years, brought strong organizational skills to Zoo Pride.

Rachel Jones, a charter member of Zoo Pride and also a Platypus member,describes Sybil La Budde’s tireless efforts. “She wrote the first training mate-rials for Zoo Pride. There were no computers or Internet back then. Shehand-wrote the materials, and I would take them to work and type them up after hours. There were quite a lot of pages. Things were very detailed,even down to the anatomy of an animal’s bones. We did the whole Zoo.” La Budde also wrote all the original animal fact sheets for the ZSM’s Sponsor an Animal program.

Sybil and George La Budde, who drove a Porsche with license plates readingZOO 1, went on the first African safari that the Zoo offered, in 1982, led bythen Zoo Director Gil Boese. “In 1986, on our first trip in Zimbabwe, Sybilwent but George did not,” Dr. Boese recalls. [This was just six years afterZimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, had won its independence from the UnitedKingdom.] “Sybil gave us a very interesting loss of breath. We were at thelodge in Hwange, Zimbabwe, and we came across some elephant tracksand decided to track them. There were six of us. We had to go in single filethrough the bush. We suddenly realized we had walked right into the middleof this herd of elephants. All of a sudden, a youngster and a mother saw us.

Want to Do More?We appreciate the generous contributions you as a Platypus Circle member provide our organization! Without your gracious support to theZoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), the Milwaukee County Zoo wouldnot be the fine institution it is. If you have a passion to do more to sustainand nurture the ZSM, we welcome your support. Here are just two waysyou can help:

Planned Giving Embraces the Zoo for Generations to ComeBy joining the Simba Circle, the ZSM’s planned-giving society, you cancreate a legacy of giving to help ensure the Zoo’s future for your familyand the entire community. Planned giving helps you to realize your long-term vision and dreams for the Zoo. Planned giving comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. One could be right for you and your family.For more information, please contact Kim Peterson, senior developmentofficer, at (414) 258-2333, ext. 310, or KimP@ZooSociety.org. You canalso visit the ZSM website for details at ZooSociety.org.

Engage New Platypus Circle MembersPlease don’t keep the great benefits you receive as a Platypus Circle member a secret!As a Platypus Circle member, you receive membership cards that you can share withfriends, unique behind-the-scenes tours, and attraction tickets for the North ShoreBank Safari Train, PNC Bank Zoomobile, Penzeys Spices Carousel, and SupercutsOceans of Fun Seal/Sea Lion Show. Our members enjoy recognition in ZSM publica-tions like Contributors and on electronic signage in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place.They are also invited to VIP events that include private openings of new exhibits, afamily picnic, and the annual Platypus Recognition Dinner. Platypus Circle benefitsalso can be shared with employees as part of a motivating and exciting incentiveprogram. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and business contacts to join you as new Platypus Circle members.

A Bit Above LLC

Jeff & Melody Anderson

Associated Bank

Dick & Yuko Baldwin

Dr. John Beltz

Dr. Phil Burns

CCI Communications Group

Eva L. Chess

John & Vida Ciulik

Community Impact Programs

Ann L. DiCastri

Graymont Western Lime Inc.

Daniel & Leanne Harmann

James Henry

HUSCO International

Cindy Kanzleiter

ISC International, Ltd.

Nancy & Tom Kingsbury

Dr. Mike Lasser

Jodi Majerus

Tony & Anne Mallinger

Elizabeth Meyer

Manufacturing Services Inc.

Morgan Kenwood Advisors, LLC

National Business Furniture

Danae Oldenburg

Ronald Ota & Amy Byrne

Bruce Paler

Rick Pearson

The Pet Apothecary

Robert M. Poehlein

Bob & Virginia Pothier

Betty Purdy

James & Nancy Redding

Rexnord Foundation

Mike and Gwen Ruedin

Roadrunner Transportation Services Milwaukee Terminal

NEW PLATYPUS MEMBERSLacey Sadoff

Sam's Club

Michelle & Eddie Sauer

Kristopher & Carrie Schroeder

Ryan & Kristin Schultz

Tyler & Kathleen Vassar

Steve and Rebecca Verhagen

William J. Volkert

Keith Ward/Ward Illustration & Design

Shannon & Paul Watry

Wells Fargo Investments

Judy Derse

Elizabeth H. Gjenvick

Roxy Heyse

Sybil La Budde

Marshfield Labs

William J. Murgas

PieperPower

Jeff and Jody Steren

Judy Van Till

Lowell Warshawsky

Zimmer Thomson Associates, Inc.

NEW 25-YEAR

MEMBERS

I whispered to everyone: Don’t make a sound. I don’t know what Sybilwas thinking, but she stepped out of the line and took a picture. Click!The elephant calf cried. The mother charged. Our guide and I stepped out and both of us shouted as loud as we could. The mother elephantstopped in her tracks, almost like she put brakes on. Then she turnedaway. I turned and asked Sybil, ‘What did you do?’ She said, ‘I got avery good picture.’”

Adds daughter Gigi: “She was fearless. Right after my dad died, shebought a horse and took up dressage. She was 67.” Sybil’s devotion to animals and conservation has rubbed off on Gigi. “I’m a restorationecologist and an environmental educator,” she says. “It seems to run inthe family.” Sybil’s father, Samuel Graham, was a forestry professor andentomologist at the University of Michigan, where the Matthaei Botani-cal Gardens now has a collection called the Sam Graham Trees. He wasone of the first to promote the value of a whole ecosystem, not just one tree or one animal. George La Budde’s mother, Wilhelmene (1880-1955), was the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Conserva-tion Hall of Fame for the influence she had on saving Wisconsin's natural resources and for promoting envi-ronmental education in the public schools.

At Sybil La Budde’s funeral, her granddaughter read from aMary Oliver poem, “Wild Geese.” This is an excerpt:

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Gigi La Budde receives a framed gorilla handprint Sept. 27 to mark her mother, Sybil La Budde’s, 25 years as a Platypus member.

Sybil La Budde

In 1979, Sybil La Budde received heraward for volunteering 1,000 hoursto Zoo Pride.

An early photo of Sybil La Budde.

Dressed in her Zoo Pride uniform, Sybil La Budde worked on training materials in 1982.

Sybil La Budde photos provided by Gigi La Budde

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:29 AM Page 2

“Spiders are our friends,” Sybil La Budde used to tell herdaughter, Gigi. And, to the consternation of her family, house centipedeswere a protected species, lauded as “beneficial predators in the home.” From her father, Samuel Graham, a pioneer in the study of forest insects,Sybil Graham La Budde learned the value of every part of an ecosystem,from bugs to trees. She put that knowledge to good use when she helpedfound the Zoological Society of Milwaukee's (ZSM's) volunteer auxiliary,Zoo Pride, in 1975. She went on to become Zoo Pride's second president and a member of the ZSM's Board of Directors. She was an early member of the Platypus Society, now called the Platypus Circle. In fact, this year she celebrated her 25th year as a Platypus member. Her support of the Zoological Society stretches back more than 60 years.

With sadness, we note that Sybil La Budde died on July 16, 2012, at the age of 89. She and her husband, George, were dedicated to conservation, the Milwaukee County Zoo and the ZSM until the end of their lives. Georgejoined the Zoological Society in 1940, was an active Board member from1946 to 1983, was ZSM president from 1954 to 1956, led a fundraising campaign for the Zoo’s move to Blue Mound Rd., and was still an honoraryZSM director when he died in 1990. Sybil stayed in Zoo Pride until the early1990s and continued attending Platypus events until a few years ago. Lastspring she called the ZSM office to note how much she enjoyed the Aprilissue of the ZSM’s Alive magazine. Her obituary mentioned her many volunteer hours at the Zoo. “I remember when I was in graduate school,

A Lifetime Conservationist

she’d be trundling off to the Zoo in her khaki outfit and giving tours,” recallsGigi La Budde, of Spring Green. She says her mom, who after graduatingfrom the University of Michigan worked as a corporate trainer for IBM for many years, brought strong organizational skills to Zoo Pride.

Rachel Jones, a charter member of Zoo Pride and also a Platypus member,describes Sybil La Budde’s tireless efforts. “She wrote the first training mate-rials for Zoo Pride. There were no computers or Internet back then. Shehand-wrote the materials, and I would take them to work and type them up after hours. There were quite a lot of pages. Things were very detailed,even down to the anatomy of an animal’s bones. We did the whole Zoo.” La Budde also wrote all the original animal fact sheets for the ZSM’s Sponsor an Animal program.

Sybil and George La Budde, who drove a Porsche with license plates readingZOO 1, went on the first African safari that the Zoo offered, in 1982, led bythen Zoo Director Gil Boese. “In 1986, on our first trip in Zimbabwe, Sybilwent but George did not,” Dr. Boese recalls. [This was just six years afterZimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, had won its independence from the UnitedKingdom.] “Sybil gave us a very interesting loss of breath. We were at thelodge in Hwange, Zimbabwe, and we came across some elephant tracksand decided to track them. There were six of us. We had to go in single filethrough the bush. We suddenly realized we had walked right into the middleof this herd of elephants. All of a sudden, a youngster and a mother saw us.

Want to Do More?We appreciate the generous contributions you as a Platypus Circle member provide our organization! Without your gracious support to theZoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), the Milwaukee County Zoo wouldnot be the fine institution it is. If you have a passion to do more to sustainand nurture the ZSM, we welcome your support. Here are just two waysyou can help:

Planned Giving Embraces the Zoo for Generations to ComeBy joining the Simba Circle, the ZSM’s planned-giving society, you cancreate a legacy of giving to help ensure the Zoo’s future for your familyand the entire community. Planned giving helps you to realize your long-term vision and dreams for the Zoo. Planned giving comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. One could be right for you and your family.For more information, please contact Kim Peterson, senior developmentofficer, at (414) 258-2333, ext. 310, or KimP@ZooSociety.org. You canalso visit the ZSM website for details at ZooSociety.org.

Engage New Platypus Circle MembersPlease don’t keep the great benefits you receive as a Platypus Circle member a secret!As a Platypus Circle member, you receive membership cards that you can share withfriends, unique behind-the-scenes tours, and attraction tickets for the North ShoreBank Safari Train, PNC Bank Zoomobile, Penzeys Spices Carousel, and SupercutsOceans of Fun Seal/Sea Lion Show. Our members enjoy recognition in ZSM publica-tions like Contributors and on electronic signage in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place.They are also invited to VIP events that include private openings of new exhibits, afamily picnic, and the annual Platypus Recognition Dinner. Platypus Circle benefitsalso can be shared with employees as part of a motivating and exciting incentiveprogram. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and business contacts to join you as new Platypus Circle members.

A Bit Above LLC

Jeff & Melody Anderson

Associated Bank

Dick & Yuko Baldwin

Dr. John Beltz

Dr. Phil Burns

CCI Communications Group

Eva L. Chess

John & Vida Ciulik

Community Impact Programs

Ann L. DiCastri

Graymont Western Lime Inc.

Daniel & Leanne Harmann

James Henry

HUSCO International

Cindy Kanzleiter

ISC International, Ltd.

Nancy & Tom Kingsbury

Dr. Mike Lasser

Jodi Majerus

Tony & Anne Mallinger

Elizabeth Meyer

Manufacturing Services Inc.

Morgan Kenwood Advisors, LLC

National Business Furniture

Danae Oldenburg

Ronald Ota & Amy Byrne

Bruce Paler

Rick Pearson

The Pet Apothecary

Robert M. Poehlein

Bob & Virginia Pothier

Betty Purdy

James & Nancy Redding

Rexnord Foundation

Mike and Gwen Ruedin

Roadrunner Transportation Services Milwaukee Terminal

NEW PLATYPUS MEMBERSLacey Sadoff

Sam's Club

Michelle & Eddie Sauer

Kristopher & Carrie Schroeder

Ryan & Kristin Schultz

Tyler & Kathleen Vassar

Steve and Rebecca Verhagen

William J. Volkert

Keith Ward/Ward Illustration & Design

Shannon & Paul Watry

Wells Fargo Investments

Judy Derse

Elizabeth H. Gjenvick

Roxy Heyse

Sybil La Budde

Marshfield Labs

William J. Murgas

PieperPower

Jeff and Jody Steren

Judy Van Till

Lowell Warshawsky

Zimmer Thomson Associates, Inc.

NEW 25-YEAR

MEMBERS

I whispered to everyone: Don’t make a sound. I don’t know what Sybilwas thinking, but she stepped out of the line and took a picture. Click!The elephant calf cried. The mother charged. Our guide and I stepped out and both of us shouted as loud as we could. The mother elephantstopped in her tracks, almost like she put brakes on. Then she turnedaway. I turned and asked Sybil, ‘What did you do?’ She said, ‘I got avery good picture.’”

Adds daughter Gigi: “She was fearless. Right after my dad died, shebought a horse and took up dressage. She was 67.” Sybil’s devotion to animals and conservation has rubbed off on Gigi. “I’m a restorationecologist and an environmental educator,” she says. “It seems to run inthe family.” Sybil’s father, Samuel Graham, was a forestry professor andentomologist at the University of Michigan, where the Matthaei Botani-cal Gardens now has a collection called the Sam Graham Trees. He wasone of the first to promote the value of a whole ecosystem, not just one tree or one animal. George La Budde’s mother, Wilhelmene (1880-1955), was the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Conserva-tion Hall of Fame for the influence she had on saving Wisconsin's natural resources and for promoting envi-ronmental education in the public schools.

At Sybil La Budde’s funeral, her granddaughter read from aMary Oliver poem, “Wild Geese.” This is an excerpt:

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Gigi La Budde receives a framed gorilla handprint Sept. 27 to mark her mother, Sybil La Budde’s, 25 years as a Platypus member.

Sybil La Budde

In 1979, Sybil La Budde received heraward for volunteering 1,000 hoursto Zoo Pride.

An early photo of Sybil La Budde.

Dressed in her Zoo Pride uniform, Sybil La Budde worked on training materials in 1982.

Sybil La Budde photos provided by Gigi La Budde

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:29 AM Page 2

“Spiders are our friends,” Sybil La Budde used to tell herdaughter, Gigi. And, to the consternation of her family, house centipedeswere a protected species, lauded as “beneficial predators in the home.” From her father, Samuel Graham, a pioneer in the study of forest insects,Sybil Graham La Budde learned the value of every part of an ecosystem,from bugs to trees. She put that knowledge to good use when she helpedfound the Zoological Society of Milwaukee's (ZSM's) volunteer auxiliary,Zoo Pride, in 1975. She went on to become Zoo Pride's second president and a member of the ZSM's Board of Directors. She was an early member of the Platypus Society, now called the Platypus Circle. In fact, this year she celebrated her 25th year as a Platypus member. Her support of the Zoological Society stretches back more than 60 years.

With sadness, we note that Sybil La Budde died on July 16, 2012, at the age of 89. She and her husband, George, were dedicated to conservation, the Milwaukee County Zoo and the ZSM until the end of their lives. Georgejoined the Zoological Society in 1940, was an active Board member from1946 to 1983, was ZSM president from 1954 to 1956, led a fundraising campaign for the Zoo’s move to Blue Mound Rd., and was still an honoraryZSM director when he died in 1990. Sybil stayed in Zoo Pride until the early1990s and continued attending Platypus events until a few years ago. Lastspring she called the ZSM office to note how much she enjoyed the Aprilissue of the ZSM’s Alive magazine. Her obituary mentioned her many volunteer hours at the Zoo. “I remember when I was in graduate school,

A Lifetime Conservationist

she’d be trundling off to the Zoo in her khaki outfit and giving tours,” recallsGigi La Budde, of Spring Green. She says her mom, who after graduatingfrom the University of Michigan worked as a corporate trainer for IBM for many years, brought strong organizational skills to Zoo Pride.

Rachel Jones, a charter member of Zoo Pride and also a Platypus member,describes Sybil La Budde’s tireless efforts. “She wrote the first training mate-rials for Zoo Pride. There were no computers or Internet back then. Shehand-wrote the materials, and I would take them to work and type them up after hours. There were quite a lot of pages. Things were very detailed,even down to the anatomy of an animal’s bones. We did the whole Zoo.” La Budde also wrote all the original animal fact sheets for the ZSM’s Sponsor an Animal program.

Sybil and George La Budde, who drove a Porsche with license plates readingZOO 1, went on the first African safari that the Zoo offered, in 1982, led bythen Zoo Director Gil Boese. “In 1986, on our first trip in Zimbabwe, Sybilwent but George did not,” Dr. Boese recalls. [This was just six years afterZimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, had won its independence from the UnitedKingdom.] “Sybil gave us a very interesting loss of breath. We were at thelodge in Hwange, Zimbabwe, and we came across some elephant tracksand decided to track them. There were six of us. We had to go in single filethrough the bush. We suddenly realized we had walked right into the middleof this herd of elephants. All of a sudden, a youngster and a mother saw us.

Want to Do More?We appreciate the generous contributions you as a Platypus Circle member provide our organization! Without your gracious support to theZoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), the Milwaukee County Zoo wouldnot be the fine institution it is. If you have a passion to do more to sustainand nurture the ZSM, we welcome your support. Here are just two waysyou can help:

Planned Giving Embraces the Zoo for Generations to ComeBy joining the Simba Circle, the ZSM’s planned-giving society, you cancreate a legacy of giving to help ensure the Zoo’s future for your familyand the entire community. Planned giving helps you to realize your long-term vision and dreams for the Zoo. Planned giving comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. One could be right for you and your family.For more information, please contact Kim Peterson, senior developmentofficer, at (414) 258-2333, ext. 310, or KimP@ZooSociety.org. You canalso visit the ZSM website for details at ZooSociety.org.

Engage New Platypus Circle MembersPlease don’t keep the great benefits you receive as a Platypus Circle member a secret!As a Platypus Circle member, you receive membership cards that you can share withfriends, unique behind-the-scenes tours, and attraction tickets for the North ShoreBank Safari Train, PNC Bank Zoomobile, Penzeys Spices Carousel, and SupercutsOceans of Fun Seal/Sea Lion Show. Our members enjoy recognition in ZSM publica-tions like Contributors and on electronic signage in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place.They are also invited to VIP events that include private openings of new exhibits, afamily picnic, and the annual Platypus Recognition Dinner. Platypus Circle benefitsalso can be shared with employees as part of a motivating and exciting incentiveprogram. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and business contacts to join you as new Platypus Circle members.

A Bit Above LLC

Jeff & Melody Anderson

Associated Bank

Dick & Yuko Baldwin

Dr. John Beltz

Dr. Phil Burns

CCI Communications Group

Eva L. Chess

John & Vida Ciulik

Community Impact Programs

Ann L. DiCastri

Graymont Western Lime Inc.

Daniel & Leanne Harmann

James Henry

HUSCO International

Cindy Kanzleiter

ISC International, Ltd.

Nancy & Tom Kingsbury

Dr. Mike Lasser

Jodi Majerus

Tony & Anne Mallinger

Elizabeth Meyer

Manufacturing Services Inc.

Morgan Kenwood Advisors, LLC

National Business Furniture

Danae Oldenburg

Ronald Ota & Amy Byrne

Bruce Paler

Rick Pearson

The Pet Apothecary

Robert M. Poehlein

Bob & Virginia Pothier

Betty Purdy

James & Nancy Redding

Rexnord Foundation

Mike and Gwen Ruedin

Roadrunner Transportation Services Milwaukee Terminal

NEW PLATYPUS MEMBERSLacey Sadoff

Sam's Club

Michelle & Eddie Sauer

Kristopher & Carrie Schroeder

Ryan & Kristin Schultz

Tyler & Kathleen Vassar

Steve and Rebecca Verhagen

William J. Volkert

Keith Ward/Ward Illustration & Design

Shannon & Paul Watry

Wells Fargo Investments

Judy Derse

Elizabeth H. Gjenvick

Roxy Heyse

Sybil La Budde

Marshfield Labs

William J. Murgas

PieperPower

Jeff and Jody Steren

Judy Van Till

Lowell Warshawsky

Zimmer Thomson Associates, Inc.

NEW 25-YEAR

MEMBERS

I whispered to everyone: Don’t make a sound. I don’t know what Sybilwas thinking, but she stepped out of the line and took a picture. Click!The elephant calf cried. The mother charged. Our guide and I stepped out and both of us shouted as loud as we could. The mother elephantstopped in her tracks, almost like she put brakes on. Then she turnedaway. I turned and asked Sybil, ‘What did you do?’ She said, ‘I got avery good picture.’”

Adds daughter Gigi: “She was fearless. Right after my dad died, shebought a horse and took up dressage. She was 67.” Sybil’s devotion to animals and conservation has rubbed off on Gigi. “I’m a restorationecologist and an environmental educator,” she says. “It seems to run inthe family.” Sybil’s father, Samuel Graham, was a forestry professor andentomologist at the University of Michigan, where the Matthaei Botani-cal Gardens now has a collection called the Sam Graham Trees. He wasone of the first to promote the value of a whole ecosystem, not just one tree or one animal. George La Budde’s mother, Wilhelmene (1880-1955), was the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Conserva-tion Hall of Fame for the influence she had on saving Wisconsin's natural resources and for promoting envi-ronmental education in the public schools.

At Sybil La Budde’s funeral, her granddaughter read from aMary Oliver poem, “Wild Geese.” This is an excerpt:

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Gigi La Budde receives a framed gorilla handprint Sept. 27 to mark her mother, Sybil La Budde’s, 25 years as a Platypus member.

Sybil La Budde

In 1979, Sybil La Budde received heraward for volunteering 1,000 hoursto Zoo Pride.

An early photo of Sybil La Budde.

Dressed in her Zoo Pride uniform, Sybil La Budde worked on training materials in 1982.

Sybil La Budde photos provided by Gigi La Budde

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:29 AM Page 2

It’s impressive to be president of a major international manufacturing company thatemploys 1,300 people worldwide. It’s evenmore impressive when you’re only 34 yearsold, like Austin Ramirez, a new member ofour Platypus Circle. The Milwaukee residentbecame president and CEO of HUSCO Inter-national—a major global manufacturingcompany based in Waukesha, Wis. — in July 2011. HUSCO provides hydraulic andelectrohydraulic components for automobiles

The PlatyPress is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Circle. The Platypus Circle is composed of individuals, corporations and foundations who share our passion for supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo, conserving endangered animal species, and teaching

the importance of preserving wildlife and its natural environment. The PlatyPress is published two to four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. www.zoosociety.org

November 2012

and off-highway applications. Originally a subsidiary of Koehring/AMCA, HUSCO International wasbought out in 1985 by Ramirez’s father, Agustin, who continues to serve as executive chairman. It took Austin about 10 years at HUSCO to obtain his currentstation. He also has impressiveathletic and academic creden-tials. After graduating with adouble major from the Univer-sity of Virginia in systems engineering and economics,he earned an MBA fromStanford University in Cali-fornia. In 1998 he won agold medal for the UnitedStates in the World Aquat-ics Championships inPerth, Western Australia.His accomplishmentsearned him inclusion in the 2012 BusinessJournal of Milwaukee’s

“Forty Under 40” list of influentialyoung leaders. So why does he like the Milwaukee County Zoo and support the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)?

Like many people who grew up in southeast-ern Wisconsin, Ramirez has fond memoriesof visiting our Zoo. He remembers the unfor-gettable Samson, the Zoo’s most famous gorilla. He recalls riding the train. He also remembers his parents buying him Mold-A-Rama animal figures—but only if he was onhis best behavior. “Those were pretty coolfor a 6-year-old boy,” he says. Perhaps

because of his competitive swimming, Ramirezsays, “I love the underwater exhibits—I mustbe part fish. I could spend hours wanderingthrough all of the aquatic exhibits at the Zoo.I’ve also always loved dolphins, sharks and the fast, powerful fish.”

“The Zoo is a wonderful resource for our community and a favorite of our employees,”he says. “We have had several great companyevents at the Zoo and, since we became Platymembers in 2012, our three HUSCO ZooPasses have become a coveted and much-utilized perk for our 500 local employees, especially during the summer months.”

Although he’s a busy, globe-trotting business-man, Ramirez recently took his niece andnephew on a behind-the-scenes tour at theZoo. “They had a blast feeding the giraffes and getting behind the scenes in the big cat exhibit and feeding the fish,” he says. “It wasfun to see how much they enjoyed the Zoo.”Ramirez expects the Zoo to remain a big part ofhis life into the future. He and his wife, Heather,are expecting a baby. They look forward to enrolling the child in the ZSM’s ConservationEducation classes, which start as early as age 2.Ramirez, who’s on the boards of non-profitssuch as the United Performing Arts Fund andBoys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, believes in supporting groups that improve the quality of life in Milwaukee. To ensure thatthe ZSM and Zoo can continue to offer cutting-edge programs and exhibits, Ramirez joined the Platypus Circle. He thinks others should do so, too. “The Zoo is an important resourcefor our community and one that we all have a responsibility to help support.”

Zoological Society of Milwaukee CountyDevelopment Department1005 W. Blue Mound RoadMilwaukee, WI 53226(414) 258-2333

Please remember the Zoological Societyin your will or estate plan.

Jan. 24Puttin’ on the Ritz dinner and boxing fundraiser for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)*

Feb 7The ZSM’s Wines and Beers ofthe World evening fundraiser*

March 9The ZSM’s members-only tripto Chicago’s Field Museum;pre-register*

April 26Zootastic, a ZSM evening family event*

May 23Platypus/VIP premiere of theZoo’s special summer exhibit; invitations will be mailed.

June 22Zoo Ball evening fundraiser*

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Thom BrownDr. Robert DavisMary Ellen EneaKaren Peck KatzMaria Gonzalez KnavelJoe Kresl (chairman)Jack McKeithan Allen MartinDeborah MusanteJill PelisekTricia ShinnersJudy Holz StathasDave StrelitzJane Bush Wierzba

DEVELOPMENT STAFF

Karen Von Rueden, Vice President of Development

Kim Peterson, Senior Development Officer

Georgia Young, Development Assistant

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS

Paula Brookmire, editorZak Mazur, writerRichard Brodzeller, Photographer

(unless otherwise noted)

On the WebFor back issues of Platy Press

dating to September 2006, go towww.zoosociety.org/pubs/platypress.

*For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.

The annual Platypus Circle dinner is a way to honor majordonors to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM). Thisyear’s dinner, held Sept. 27 at the Milwaukee County Zoo, also marked the presentation of the ZSM’s highest award, the Emu Egg. Presented since 1982 to people who havegiven outstanding service to the ZSM, the award is a realemu egg encased in glass. Katherine Hust of U.S. Cellular(pictured at left/right) received the award for consistentmeritorious service and exceptional contributions and com-mitment to the ZSM. Hust began her relationship with theZSM in 2005 by becoming a Board member and Platypusmember. She held the vital role of Zoo Ball co-chair in 2009.Zoo Ball is the ZSM’s largest annual fundraiser. She has pas-sionately contributed to the ZSM education committee since2006 and has been instrumental in pioneering and nurturinga strong bond between the Zoological Society and U.S. Cellular for over nine years. Hust is U.S. Cellular’s vice president of sales for the mid-central region. The 2012Platypus dinner also recognized over 50 new members this year as well as those who celebrated their 25th year of Platypus membership (see page 2). Some of the new 25-year Platypus members are pictured here.

Platypus Recognition Dinner

printed on recycled paper 5445J12

Austin Ramirez

Photo provided by HUSCO International

Austin Ramirez: A Global View

By Zak Mazur

William Murgas,

a 25-year Platypus member

Elizabeth Gjenvick, a 25-year Platypus member

Lowell Warshawsky, a 25-year Platypus member

Jody and Jeffrey Steren, a 25-year Platypus member

Judy Van Till,

a 25-year Platypus memberDavid and Bonnie Sarandos

of Marshfield Labs,

a 25-year Platypus member

Katherine Hust

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:06 AM Page 1

It’s impressive to be president of a major international manufacturing company thatemploys 1,300 people worldwide. It’s evenmore impressive when you’re only 34 yearsold, like Austin Ramirez, a new member ofour Platypus Circle. The Milwaukee residentbecame president and CEO of HUSCO Inter-national—a major global manufacturingcompany based in Waukesha, Wis. — in July 2011. HUSCO provides hydraulic andelectrohydraulic components for automobiles

The PlatyPress is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Circle. The Platypus Circle is composed of individuals, corporations and foundations who share our passion for supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo, conserving endangered animal species, and teaching

the importance of preserving wildlife and its natural environment. The PlatyPress is published two to four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. www.zoosociety.org

November 2012

and off-highway applications. Originally a subsidiary of Koehring/AMCA, HUSCO International wasbought out in 1985 by Ramirez’s father, Agustin, who continues to serve as executive chairman. It took Austin about 10 years at HUSCO to obtain his currentstation. He also has impressiveathletic and academic creden-tials. After graduating with adouble major from the Univer-sity of Virginia in systems engineering and economics,he earned an MBA fromStanford University in Cali-fornia. In 1998 he won agold medal for the UnitedStates in the World Aquat-ics Championships inPerth, Western Australia.His accomplishmentsearned him inclusion in the 2012 BusinessJournal of Milwaukee’s

“Forty Under 40” list of influentialyoung leaders. So why does he like the Milwaukee County Zoo and support the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)?

Like many people who grew up in southeast-ern Wisconsin, Ramirez has fond memoriesof visiting our Zoo. He remembers the unfor-gettable Samson, the Zoo’s most famous gorilla. He recalls riding the train. He also remembers his parents buying him Mold-A-Rama animal figures—but only if he was onhis best behavior. “Those were pretty coolfor a 6-year-old boy,” he says. Perhaps

because of his competitive swimming, Ramirezsays, “I love the underwater exhibits—I mustbe part fish. I could spend hours wanderingthrough all of the aquatic exhibits at the Zoo.I’ve also always loved dolphins, sharks and the fast, powerful fish.”

“The Zoo is a wonderful resource for our community and a favorite of our employees,”he says. “We have had several great companyevents at the Zoo and, since we became Platymembers in 2012, our three HUSCO ZooPasses have become a coveted and much-utilized perk for our 500 local employees, especially during the summer months.”

Although he’s a busy, globe-trotting business-man, Ramirez recently took his niece andnephew on a behind-the-scenes tour at theZoo. “They had a blast feeding the giraffes and getting behind the scenes in the big cat exhibit and feeding the fish,” he says. “It wasfun to see how much they enjoyed the Zoo.”Ramirez expects the Zoo to remain a big part ofhis life into the future. He and his wife, Heather,are expecting a baby. They look forward to enrolling the child in the ZSM’s ConservationEducation classes, which start as early as age 2.Ramirez, who’s on the boards of non-profitssuch as the United Performing Arts Fund andBoys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, believes in supporting groups that improve the quality of life in Milwaukee. To ensure thatthe ZSM and Zoo can continue to offer cutting-edge programs and exhibits, Ramirez joined the Platypus Circle. He thinks others should do so, too. “The Zoo is an important resourcefor our community and one that we all have a responsibility to help support.”

Zoological Society of Milwaukee CountyDevelopment Department1005 W. Blue Mound RoadMilwaukee, WI 53226(414) 258-2333

Please remember the Zoological Societyin your will or estate plan.

Jan. 24Puttin’ on the Ritz dinner and boxing fundraiser for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM)*

Feb 7The ZSM’s Wines and Beers ofthe World evening fundraiser*

March 9The ZSM’s members-only tripto Chicago’s Field Museum;pre-register*

April 26Zootastic, a ZSM evening family event*

May 23Platypus/VIP premiere of theZoo’s special summer exhibit; invitations will be mailed.

June 22Zoo Ball evening fundraiser*

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Thom BrownDr. Robert DavisMary Ellen EneaKaren Peck KatzMaria Gonzalez KnavelJoe Kresl (chairman)Jack McKeithan Allen MartinDeborah MusanteJill PelisekTricia ShinnersJudy Holz StathasDave StrelitzJane Bush Wierzba

DEVELOPMENT STAFF

Karen Von Rueden, Vice President of Development

Kim Peterson, Senior Development Officer

Georgia Young, Development Assistant

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS

Paula Brookmire, editorZak Mazur, writerRichard Brodzeller, Photographer

(unless otherwise noted)

On the WebFor back issues of Platy Press

dating to September 2006, go towww.zoosociety.org/pubs/platypress.

*For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.

The annual Platypus Circle dinner is a way to honor majordonors to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM). Thisyear’s dinner, held Sept. 27 at the Milwaukee County Zoo, also marked the presentation of the ZSM’s highest award, the Emu Egg. Presented since 1982 to people who havegiven outstanding service to the ZSM, the award is a realemu egg encased in glass. Katherine Hust of U.S. Cellular(pictured at left/right) received the award for consistentmeritorious service and exceptional contributions and com-mitment to the ZSM. Hust began her relationship with theZSM in 2005 by becoming a Board member and Platypusmember. She held the vital role of Zoo Ball co-chair in 2009.Zoo Ball is the ZSM’s largest annual fundraiser. She has pas-sionately contributed to the ZSM education committee since2006 and has been instrumental in pioneering and nurturinga strong bond between the Zoological Society and U.S. Cellular for over nine years. Hust is U.S. Cellular’s vice president of sales for the mid-central region. The 2012Platypus dinner also recognized over 50 new members this year as well as those who celebrated their 25th year of Platypus membership (see page 2). Some of the new 25-year Platypus members are pictured here.

Platypus Recognition Dinner

printed on recycled paper 5445J12

Austin Ramirez

Photo provided by HUSCO International

Austin Ramirez: A Global View

By Zak Mazur

William Murgas,

a 25-year Platypus member

Elizabeth Gjenvick, a 25-year Platypus member

Lowell Warshawsky, a 25-year Platypus member

Jody and Jeffrey Steren, a 25-year Platypus member

Judy Van Till,

a 25-year Platypus memberDavid and Bonnie Sarandos

of Marshfield Labs,

a 25-year Platypus member

Katherine Hust

PlatyPress_Dec12 1/22/14 10:06 AM Page 1