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Our Events · Whitefish Bay TALKS: When Milwaukee Went to War with Tom Fehring

Wednesday

May

24

Whitefish Bay TALKS: When Milwaukee Went to War with Tom Fehring

Wed, May 24th

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Registration is open from:
01/23/2023 - 05/24/2023

When Milwaukee Went to War

Description: When Milwaukee Went to War brings to life the incredible stories behind the many men and women, from all walks of life, who stepped up and proudly worked toward achieving victory during World War II. The talk will chronicle their hard work and sacrifices, along with the investment and innovation by Milwaukee industry, that led to success.

"Every combat division, every naval task force, every squadron of fighting planes is dependent for its equipment and ammunition and fuel and food . . . on the American people in civilian clothes in the offices and in the factories and on the farms at home."

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1943

Bio of Presenter: Tom Fehring is an engineer by training and practice, having worked at ‘keeping the lights on’ at Wisconsin Energy Corporation and its various subsidiaries. Earlier in his career, he also worked for a time at Falk Corporation, Briggs & Stratton and Ford Motor Company. He was born and grew up in Milwaukee in the shadows of the A.O. Smith factory. Tom attended Marquette University and attained bachelor and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Tom's foray into industrial history began 40 years ago and escalated following his retirement when he was appointed to the history and heritage committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has also been involved with community history, serving on the Whitefish Bay Historic Preservation Commission and writing four books on the Village’s history. 

Fehring is a ‘Life Member’ and a ‘Fellow’ of ASME and a member (and past chair) of its History and Heritage Committee.

Fehring's research into Milwaukee's early industrial companies, and their innovations, resulted his books, “The Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee." and "When Milwaukee Went to War."