Stratford H.S. inducts three into Alumni Wall of Excellence
By Casey Krautkramer
Stratford High School on Friday inducted three members into its inaugural Alumni Wall of Excellence. Ken Breit, Dan Drexler and Allie Knoll were honored for their exceptional achievements and contributions to the school district and community.
These three 2024 inductees were announced at midfield before the Stratford varsity football team’s homecoming win against Weyauwega-Fremont. The men were awarded plaques, given free entry into the game and received special seating with their family members behind the north end zone.
The following are biographies the Stratford School District provided to The Record Review of the three inductees into Alumni Wall of Excellence:
Ken Breit
Breit attended both Stratford elementary and high schools, graduating in 1955. He played basketball and baseball for the Tigers. After high school, he attended college for two years. He married Helen in 1958. The couple has five children, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was a soldier with the Wisconsin National Guard Red Arrow Division and was activated for the Berlin Crisis. He retired as a sergeant first class after nine years of service. Ken and Helen Breit operated a family dairy farm until 1985. During that time, he was one of the founders of Stratford Homes in 1973, retiring in 2002.
Ken Breit served on the Stratford Board of Education for 15 years and the Marathon County Children’s Handicap Board for 12 years. He also drove bus for the school district for 15 years after his retirement from Stratford Homes.
He served the community as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish Council, Stratford State Bank Board and town of Cleveland Board.
Dan Drexler
Drexler is a 1987 graduate of Stratford High School who was a multi-sport athlete and captain of Stratford’s first state championship football team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from UWStout in 1991.
Drexler started and is current owner of Stratford Sign Company with his wife, Cara, since 1995. Some career accomplishments during this time include serving as president of the Stratford Area Chamber of Commerce and on the Partners Bank board of directors. He was named Stratford’s Finest and Stratford Fan of the Year and his company was named the Stratford Area Fire Departments’s Firm of the Year. He served on the village of Stratford Planning Commission, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church council and the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI). Stratford Sign Company was named MACCI’s 2016 Business of the Year.
Dan and Cara Drexler have four children including Jake, Manny, Gavin and Grace.
Allie Knoll
Knoll is a Stratford native and 1965 graduate of Stratford High School. After graduating from college, he served in the U.S. Army and later returned to Stratford to work at Stratford State Bank, which is now Partners Bank. During these years, he worked as president of the bank and president of the Village Business Association. He founded the Stratford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Stratford Area Economic Development Foundation. He arranged the formation of Klemme Park, Klemme Reserve and the Stratford Area Historical Museum.
Knoll established the decades-long Stratford Heritage Days and served on multiple boards and foundations. Tiger Field, the fitness center and performance stage area also part of his legacy. He and his wife, Diane, have three children, Sara, Adam and John who are also Stratford High School Alumni.
PROUD TIGERS - From left to right, Stratford alumni Ken Breit, Dan Drexler and Allie Knoll display the plaques they received before being inducted into the Stratford High School Alumni Wall of Fame last Friday STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
