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Educator honored with scholarship
Rewey Milt Phyllis 2004
Phyllis and Milt Rewey

The PHS Scholarship Fund’s Milton R. Rewey Scholarship Endowment has been established to honor a longtime Southwest Wisconsin educator.

Rewey was well-known in the Platteville community. Milt (Bud as he was known in high school) grew up on a farm, graduated from Platteville High School in 1942 and had one career goal — he did not want to milk cows the rest of his life. He enrolled at Platteville State Teachers College. In 1944, Milt married Phyllis Clifton, while serving in the U.S. Navy. His Naval career was at Chicago’s Navy Pier, where he was a sonar instructor. That made him realize he wanted to be a teacher. In 1946 he returned to Platteville, earning his degree in education in 1947. In 1953, Milt earned a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Wisconsin.

Rewey had a nearly 35-year career in education. His initial position was in Benton, where he taught and coached the undefeated baseball team to the first state baseball tournament in Milwaukee. He continued his career serving schools and students in Poynette, Ripon, St. Francis, Waupun, and then Platteville and in positions including teacher, coach, principal, Cooperative Educational Service Agency administrator, and assistant superintendent.

Rewey retired in 1980, embracing his love of travel and leading tours throughout the world and the U.S. He and Phyllis relocated to Florida in 1986, and lived for nearly 20 years in the Englewood and Port Charlotte areas before returning “home” to Platteville in 2007. 

Rewey’s dedication to education and community was evident in his volunteer work. He served his faith community, the Methodist Church, for 70 years. He served with community organizations including his timeshare board, neighborhood association, the Platteville Commission on Aging, the Platteville Optimists, and the local Kiwanis Club. He was also active with governmental committees including his Florida county’s water and sewer commission and the Platteville City Hall Task Force.

“Education was important to my father,” said Rewey’s son, Mike. “His career is an example of its value. He loved teaching, guiding and mentoring students to achieve their potential. He saw good in every student. Additionally, no matter where dad was, Platteville was always his home. This endowment will fund a scholarship for a Platteville High School graduate who will attend a four-year accredited university to study education and become a teacher. I know that my late mother, Phyllis, as well as my siblings, Peggy, Patty and Curtis, will be with me ‘in heart’ as I present the first Rewey Scholarship at the May 16, 2016 PHS Award Night event.” 

Established in 2010, the PHS Scholarship Fund’s mission is to expand access to post-secondary education for the students of the Platteville School District. The Fund fulfills this mission primarily by working with the community — its people and businesses — to accumulate monies for scholarships. Through the generosity of this community the number and value of scholarships has grown substantially for each subsequent class.

The PHS Scholarship Fund is affiliated with the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, a tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. For further information or to establish a named scholarship endowment fund, contact PHS Fund Advisory Board Chair Sheila Kelley, 348-2615, sheilak@kopplaw.net, or CFSW Donor Services Representative Barb Daus, 778-3344, barb@cfsw.org.