Paul Feldhausen (Courtesy photo)

SHAWANO, Wis. — Paul Feldhausen has been named 2025 Man of the Year by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association. Amongst many accolades, Feldhausen’s legendary career includes three years of professional football and four individual Hall of Fame enshrinements.

He began as a standout all-sport athlete at Iron Mountain High School, earning nine varsity letters and was captain and MVP in both football and basketball. He also excelled playing hockey for the city teams in both Iron Mountain and Duluth, Minn.

During his four years as a two-way starter playing football at Northland College, Feldhausen garnered awards as a two-time Little (small college) All-American lineman, the first Voltaire Perkins award as MVP, and team captain with recognition as the most outstanding Lumberjack.

He was selected in the first common AFL-NFL draft as an offensive tackle for the New England (Boston) Patriots in 1968. Having also been pursued by the Chiefs and Raiders, he was very humbled when contacted by Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, for whom he always dreamed of playing for.

Feldhausen credits his very early interest in football due to family involvement with the Green Bay Packers organization, and longtime family friendship with Earl “Curly” Lambeau. His formative years were spent in Green Bay, Wis., prior to relocating to Iron Mountain where he considers home as a “small-town Yooper.”

As a mentor, he has volunteered countless hours to various football, baseball and other athletic camps throughout the Midwest inspiring generations of athletes at many levels.

Feldhausen continues the role as president of the Milwaukee Officials Association, worked 18 years as commissioner of the Woodland Conference and has umpired high school baseball for nearly 50 years.

His experience involves 18 years in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, three years in the Big-10 Collegiate Athletic Conference, and four years with professional softball.

He has served as an officiating crew chief and umpired the coveted state finals tournament 17 times for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association, served as Umpire in Chief at the WIAA state tournament since 2008, and as a rule interpreter for 38 years.

Feldhausen was named National Federation of State High School Associations Umpire of the Year in 1993, Wisconsin Commissioners Association Official of the Year in 2021 and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Umpire of the Year in 1988 and 2011, prior to his announcement as Wisconsin’s Baseball Man of the Year for 2025.

Feldhausen was enshrined to the Northland College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991; the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 2015; the United States Flag and Touch Football League Hall of Fame in 2017, where he was recognized as the only three-time player-coach world champion; and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024.

Born to Gordon and Marion Feldhausen, he was blessed with 54 years of marriage to his late wife Cheryl. He attributes much of his success to her selfless love and unwavering support as his biggest fan throughout the years.

He is the proud father of two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Feldhausen retired as a successful business owner in the Milwaukee area, and resides in Muskego, Wis.