From Racine4thFest
Bernard F. Magruder 1895 – 1968
In 1919, young Bernard Magruder left his home in Webb City, Missouri to come to Racine after serving 18 months of military service in World War I.
After a short period of employment with Webster Electric, Magruder joined the Horlick’s Malted Milk Corp. where he became an executive in the area of accounting and finance, a position he held until the late 1940s.
In early 1937, the mayor of Racine, Roy Spencer, in an attempt to neutralize the bitterness that the industrial community was experiencing, organized the Goodwill Committee. Bernard Magruder was chosen as chairman of this 25 member group made up of business and labor leaders.
The Goodwill Committee organized a celebration centered around the 4th of July. The event was a smashing success, far beyond anyone’s expectations.
At the follow-up meeting after the Fourth, Chairman Magruder suggested that the committee stay intact and promote the Goodwill Celebration as an annual event. Some members balked at the idea, but Magruder’s plan prevailed.
In his column in the Racine Journal-Times, Tex Reynolds wrote, “This decision resulted in permanizing (sic) the event”.
Magruder left Racine in the late 1940s to join the faculty of Wayne State University in Detroit. He later moved to Washington, D.C. where he was on the staff of the Internal Revenue Service until his retirement.
Through the years, Magruder was an active member of the American Legion, The Masons, the Elks and many other civic and professional organizations. He was also a master bridge player, lecturer and teacher.
While residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Magruder passed away on October 27, 1968. The Board of Directors of Fourth Fest of Greater Racine, Inc. had decided (belatedly) to rename the President’s Trophy the Bernard F. Magruder Trophy beginning July 4, 2006.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1961* | Progressive Dairy Company |
| 1962* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 1963* | Progressive Dairy Company |
| 1964* | J.I. Case Company |
| 1965* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1966* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 1967* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 1968* | Modine Manufacturing Company |
| 1969* | Racine Shrine Club |
| 1970* | S.C. Johnson |
| 1971* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1972* | S.C. Johnson |
| 1973* | S.C. Johnson |
| 1974* | S.C. Johnson |
| 1975* | S.C. Johnson |
| 1976* | J.I. Case Company |
| 1977* | J.I. Case Company |
| 1978* | J.I. Case Company |
| 1979* | Rexnord |
| 1980* | Walker Manufacturing Company |
| 1981* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 1982* | Snap-On Incorporated |
| 1983* | Modine Manufacturing Company |
| 1984* | Walker Manufacturing Company |
| 1985* | Modie Manufacturing Company |
| 1986* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1987* | Walker Manufacturing Company |
| 1988* | Modine Manufacturing Company |
| 1989* | Surgitek |
| 1990* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1991* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1992* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1993* | Western Publishing Company |
| 1994* | Prudential - Heritage Realty |
| 1995* | J.I. Case Company |
| 1996* | Jacobsen - Textron |
| 1997* | Jacobsen - Textron |
| 1998* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 1999* | Not Awarded |
| 2000* | In-Sink-Erator |
| 2001* | S.C. Johnson |
| 2002* | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 2003* | Modine Manufacturing Company |
| 2004* | Modine Manufacturing Company |
| 2005* | Not Awarded |
| 2006 | Twin Disc Incorporated |
| 2007 | Wheaton Franciscan All Saints |
| 2008 | Not Awarded |
| 2009 | Not Awarded |
| 2010 | Not Awarded |
- - From 1961 to 2006, the award was the President's Trophy.
