Athletic director emeritus and former University of Wisconsin-Madison athlete Pat Richter will join Chancellor David Ward as the keynote speaker at the winter commencement ceremony Dec. 16.
Richter revived the athletic department as athletic director beginning in 1989, in part by bringing the Badger football and basketball programs into the national spotlight, according to a university press release. He was responsible for hiring noted coaches Barry Alvarez, Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan to work with Wisconsin athletics.
Richter played football, basketball and baseball during his time at UW-Madison and went to the 1963 Rose Bowl against the University of Southern California as a member of the football team. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as others.
Richter also played for the Washington Redskins as a tight end and punter from 1963-’70.
Winter commencement will take place Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. in the Kohl Center.
