Ron Van De Hey, who was instrumental in the preserving the Fox Lock system, is retiring as board chairman for the Fox River Navigational System Authority.
Van De Hey served on the original task force to reopen the lock system in 1981 and has provided decades of public service as an elected official.
“When we started, the vision was to have a system open from the Bay of Green Bay to Lake Winnebago,” Van De Hey said. “We are continuing along that course, but this effort is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
When Van De Hey and other leaders considered saving the system it was badly in need of repair, funding, and management. In 2001, the state legislature approved a law creating the Fox River Navigational System Authority and transferred operation of the system from the Army Corps of Engineers to the state of Wisconsin. A community-wide effort from board members, local citizens and businesses resulted in raising $14.5 million to restore the system from 2000-2015.
“We would have walked away from almost 200 years of history if we closed the lock system and shut it down,” Van De Hey said. “It’s critical to stay involved and get active so people who follow us will look back years from now and be thankful for the structure and organization we created. You have an obligation to do the right thing.”
In addition to his leadership for the locks the Kaukauna native served on the Kaukauna School Board, was mayor of Kaukauna from 1982 to 1992, and was elected Outagamie County Executive in 1991.
“My favorite job was being the mayor of the city of Kaukauna,” Van De Hey said. “You couldn’t buy a career like mine because it was so enjoyable, I’m a pretty fortunate guy.”
Fox Locks Executive Director Phil Ramlet said, “Ron’s ability to bring diverse people and opinions to the table created a collaborative environment that got things done. He set the standards for community service and engagement and helped restore this historic and unique locks system,” Ramlet said.
