"Badger Bill" Garvey was an icon in both McFarland where he taught music for 31 years and among the UW-Madison community who shared his passion for all things Wisconsin.
On Thursday, Garvey passed away after a bout with cancer. He was 60.
In addition to teaching music in McFarland, Garvey was also field assistant to the UW Marching Band for 35 years.
Longtime UW Marching Band director Mike Leckrone said his close friend was a figurehead for the organization, helping to organize the alumni band and the annual "Band Day" celebration of high school musicians from around the state.
As a freshman at UW-Madison 43 years ago, Garvey played trumpet in Leckrone's first band. He began his teaching career in Kenosha, but after being hired by McFarland he spent his evenings after school rushing to campus to assist with the UW Marching Band, Leckrone recalled.
"I don't know of anybody who was more of a Badger than Bill Garvey," Leckrone said. "We all admired that loyalty he had."
Over his career, Garvey coached sports, served as president of the McFarland Federation of Teachers through five teaching contracts and served as a guest conductor for several state music festivals.
"The guy lived for everybody," McFarland Superintendent Scott Brown said.
In January, despite health concerns, Garvey participated in his fifth New Year's Day Rose Parade, marching with his daughter Jessica, a UW-Madison senior.
Upon his retirement from McFarland in 2008, Garvey said the legacy he wanted to leave was continued cooperation between the music and athletic departments.
"There is a mutual respect and admiration for each other's accomplishments. There is also a concerted effort made to not force students into making choices between one activity or another," Garvey said. "There is a hope and desire on my part for this fine relationship to continue."
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