April 26, 2021 at 6:09 p.m.
Benjamin Charles Roemer
After serving in World War II, BC married Jeanette Sabrowsky on June 25, 1949 and the two moved to Manitowish waters from central Wisconsin. They established a small bait and guide shop, The Rod & Reel.
In 1947, BC had started another business, Trueflight Manufacturing Company, which he brought to Manitowish Waters. It rapidly grew to include both national and international clients. Before he developed his business, feather fletching and other archery accessories were difficult to find. Intending to make completed arrows, BC soon found out that creating the feather fletching was a full time job in itself. He invented and patented numerous apparatus for archery and other sports. Trueflight is still in business, after 73 years. In the 1980’s BC built Crafty’s FeatherWorks, a feather processing company in Overton, Nev.
His hobbies included fishing, hunting and flying — BC and his son Peter built a small, experimental aircraft, which won several awards and a few air races.
Some years ago, BC was named the outstanding alumnus of his former high school, and was invited to give the graduation address. He joked with the students about his motorcycle and his ponytail, laughing when he removed the fake ponytail before heading into more serious matters. This is the address he gave, which reflected his personality and philosophy of life:
“I wish to thank everyone involved for bestowing this high honor on me.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Graduates:
You know what this group is thinking? “Where did they dig up this guy? Looks like something the cat dragged in” (BC is wearing a baseball cap showing a long ponytail).
I don’t mind because I got the Harley Hog running in the parking lot in case they throw too many eggs.
I hate these guys that wear caps in restaurants don’t you? I don’t mind at a graduation — do you — you do? Well OK ponytails are hot anyway (BC removes his cap showing the attached fake ponytail).
Now there is your first lesson. All through life people are going to try to fool you so always be aware.
This little talk is different from most speeches and I doubt you will ever hear one like it in your entire life, ‘so listen up!’ as they say in the South or ‘pay attention’ as they say up here.
Before I get to talk about my favorite subject — me — I have a few words of advice.
If you thought your life till now was great — you ain’t seen nothing yet! Did you notice the English teachers in the back of the room squirm in their chairs? Well all right I will clean it up a bit — you haven’t seen anything yet! I sort of like the first one better, don’t you? You will experience great joy and greater happiness and yes, sorrow and sadness. It goes with the territory, as they say.
I have only three things that will enrich your life, guarantee happiness with less worry and give you comfort.
1. Accept the fact that life isn’t fair. I had a problem with this but I got over it and you have to also. You might ask yourself after something went wrong or something effected your health — why me? Don’t ask the question just accept the fact and work around it, do the best you can to correct the problem.
2. Always tell the truth. Live your life so you never have to lie. If you lie about anything you’re heading for big trouble and worries. And no one will ever believe you again.
3. Keep God in your life. There may be times when you will have no one else to talk to.
And now about me.
That list of accomplishments seems impressive. You might think I’m one of those Genius kids — high grades, top of the class person.
Now here is the truth:
If I were sitting with you graduating today I would be at the bottom of the class academically — by a factor of 2 or 3.
Seeing I don’t lie, I’m going to have to prove it.
Grade school — sixth grade — I failed it. While my classmates went on to seventh grade I had to repeat sixth grade. Any of you fail a grade and have to repeat? See how smart you are?
Eighth grade: The last report card I received after graduation, the principle wrote “not recommended for high school.” Any of you ever receive a recommendation like that?
I went anyway.
When I was a junior I decided I had enough of English so I elected not to take it. We were flexible back then. Of course I also didn’t take it in my senior year. I was mechanically inclined and didn’t like all that boring English stuff.
My grades in four years of high school, I never had a B and certainly not an A as I recall.
A few weeks before graduation, I decided I wanted to go to college. The University of Wisconsin, no less.
But there’s a problem. The application requires four years of English. So I go to the principle and explained my problem. The principle, Mr. Robert Voughn, was a though taskmaster. A no none-sense type of guy. Knowing my record, he could hardly keep from laughing. He left the room, to laugh, I suspect, and came back and said — “You got it. I changed records to show you had four years of English.”
So, off to college I went. Teachers quit squirming! The graduates know it’s bad English. My family had no money so I worked in the summer to get tuition money.
In college they reviewed high school math and chemistry for two weeks, then a test. Either this school did not offer advanced math or I wasn’t paying attention because I failed the test. This school did not offer a chemistry course so I had no problem failing that test also.
Guess what course I got A’s and B’s in? English!
I want to break here a minute and thank the school and the school board for the wisdom in hiring such highly talented English teachers. In all schools around here it takes four years to prepare for good grades in college. But here at the Tigerton High School one only needs two years to do that and I’m living proof! Let’s give them a big hand!
Then the war draft came and I went to war. After the war, I didn’t go back to college, but started the Archery Feather Business.
In the three and a half years I was in the army I went in as a private, the lowest rank possible. I still was a private when I was discharged. Any of you would have done better than that.
Now the bottom line.
If I could have any success with a record like this, you can also and seeing you’re a lot smarter than me you can go a lot further.
Set a goal — don’t take no for an answer and keep on it. Don’t wait for someone else to do something — do it yourself. Whenever you have a problem you can’t seem to solve or feel disappointed or depressed, I want you to think of today and this talk.
You can solve it — don’t give up.
This school and others have empowered you to do anything. Believe in yourself.
May you enjoy health, happiness and success.
Thank you for your attention and good night.”
(Services will be scheduled and announced at a later date.)
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