Distinguished Alumni
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(2007) Jerry Ziesmer |
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 Jerry Ziesmer is a June 1957 graduate of Rufus King. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1961 and his master’s from UCLA. He was elected a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1985.
Jerry was teaching English in Santa Monica when he decided to pursue training as a first assistant director through the Directors Guild of America. He went on to establish himself as one of the premier feature assistant directors in the movie industry with over forty feature film credits. Those credits include: Sydney Pollack’s, The Way We Were; Mark Rydell’s, Harry and Walter Go to New York and The River; Frances Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 1941; Cameron Crowe’s, Say Anything, Jerry Maguire, and Almost Famous; and Mel Brooks’, History of the World, Part I. His film acting credits include Jerry Maguire, Rocky II, and Apocalypse Now. The Directors Guild of America awarded Jerry the 2006 Frank Capra Achievement Award at its 58th Annual DGA Awards dinner. The award is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
Since retirement he and his wife Suzanne ‘57 have become active volunteers for Meals on Wheels, the Getty Center Art Museum, and for “Operation Gratitude”, an organization that packs parcels for U.S. service men and women throughout the world. Jerry has published a memoir describing his career entitled Ready When You Are Mr. Coppola, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Crowe. (Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1999).
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(2007) Sonia Wolff Vogl |
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 Planning from The University of Michigan, and were on the faculty of Northern Illinois University where Bob taught alternative energy, environmental quality, leisure, and research and Sonia taught field ecology, seasonal and prairie ecology, and interpretation.
They are founders and officers of the Friends of the Rock River, advisors to the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County, and officers of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association. Bob is president; Sonia is secretary-treasurer. They have been coordinators of the Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair since its inception in 2002.
They have presented programs on alternative energy and solar electricity in over a dozen countries. They also have installed a 3.2 kilowatt grid-connected photovoltaic system and a one kilowatt Bergey wind generator which provide 70% of their home electrical power. They provide classes and tours of the installations for the public. They have dedicated 60 acres of their 180-acre home farm to prairie and woodland restoration projects.
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(2007) Willie Perkins, Jr. |
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 Willie Perkins, Jr. is the second-generation owner of the well-known and highly respected Mr. Perkins Restaurant located on 20th and Atkinson in the City of Milwaukee. A successful business owner, he began learning the fundamentals of the business at an early age. While other youngsters his age were playing outdoors after school, he was busy learning the ins and outs of the restaurant business by assisting his family with the daily duties of customer service, food preparation and menu selection. His passion and commitment for the family business that his parents founded in 1969 continues to grow.
After high school, Willie attended MATC and took entrepreneurship classes at UW-Milwaukee. His experience growing up and working in the family restaurant, coupled with his academic training has made him the success he is today. He is also involved in the community as a leader in politics, current affairs and minority business. His outstanding customer service and business acumen has introduced him to Hollywood greats such as Danny Glover, Michael Jordan, Tom Brokaw, Charles Barkley, and Dave Winfield.
Willie and his family have provided continuous service to the Milwaukee area for over thirty-five years. Willie is definitely a grassroots person, working under the guidance of his parents who still live in the community and across the street from Rufus King. Willie, Jr. is also a Milwaukee resident. He is an excellent role model for African American students who want to pursue entrepreneurship.
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(2007) John Gilbert Luebtow |
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 John Gilbert Luebtow received the George Wolf Award at his graduation from Rufus King in 1962, recognizing his outstanding achievement as an athlete, scholar and school leader. He went on to study at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks and then UCLA, earning masters’ degrees in ceramic and glass art.
Since 1966, John’s work has been included in more than 175 exhibitions in galleries, museums and universities throughout the United States and abroad. More than 160 magazine articles have been written about John and his work. Many hotels and other businesses throughout the world have commissioned his work for their buildings. He has earned numerous awards and honors and has been selected for recognition as a teacher by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006.
John loves teaching and has said that his goal is “…to help inspire young people to never give up and always follow their dreams.” He remembers his formative years at Rufus King for the faculty that guide “us all” and the lifelong friendships made here.
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Twenty Year Reunion
July 25-27, 2008
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