Clifford A. Christl

Clifford A. Christl graduated from UW Oshkosh in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Following graduation, he became an award-winning sportswriter, working for newspapers in Manitowoc, Green Bay, and Milwaukee over a career that spanned more than 36 years. He was named sportswriter of the year in Wisconsin seven times, twice won contests for best national sports story, and was inducted into both the Wisconsin Football and Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Halls of Fame for his coverage of both sports. Cliff received the UW Oshkosh Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

Cliff established the Clifford A. Christl & Family Endowed Scholarship in 2009 to honor his father, Clifford H. Christl, and his grandfather, Peter A. Christl. Cliff created the scholarship with his family, including his wife, Shirley Christl; his daughters, Kelly Christl and Cassie Christl Schmitt; and his grandchildren, Isaac Schmitt, Beckett Schmitt, and Kelsey Schmitt. For Cliff’s grandfather, it was important that Cliff receive a good college education. Cliff was able to use his father’s veteran benefits and an inheritance from his grandfather to help pay for his schooling at UW Oshkosh. With this scholarship, Cliff hopes to support future UW Oshkosh students in their educational pursuits.

Clifford H. Christl graduated from Appleton High School in 1937 and briefly attended Appleton Vocational School and worked several jobs before entering the service in 1941. He was a decorated World War II soldier, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge under the command of General George Patton as a member of the 11th Armored Division. Prior to being shipped overseas, Clifford H. spent time at Camp Cooke, CA, where he was exposed to radioactive material. This exposure likely caused the cancer that led to his death at the age of 27. He died at Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, IL, on April 4, 1947, without ever seeing his only child, Clifford A., who was born just 13 days earlier to his wife, Jane Hansen, in Green Bay.

Peter A. Christl was born in 1890 and married his wife, Martha, in 1913. They adopted their only child, Clifford H. Christl in July 1920 from the St. Mary’s Mothers and Infants Home in Green Bay. Peter was a common laborer who spent most of his working years at Appleton Wire Works. He lost his wife in 1935, when she died at the age of 42, after being struck by a car. Peter died in 1957 at age of 67.