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Residence Halls
— Ted Lenfestey Hall
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Ted Lenfestey Hall was built in 1985 as part of Phase I of UW-Green Bay Housing along with Arlene and
Byron Walter and Josephine Lenfestey Halls. Ted Lenfesty is one of the first residence halls ever built in the
Residence Life complex.
About the man: Frederick J. (Ted) Lenfestey's life was flamboyant, eventful and never dull. His funeral
was described as an event, a happening. A Green Bay Press-Gazette columnist described Ted Lenfestey as
"one of the most colorful individuals who ever graced these parts."
Mr. Lenfestey was born in 1903 and lived most of his life in De Pere. He died in 1985 at the age of 82 after
a long career as an executive of the F. Hurlbut Coal Company. He had retired as chairman of the Green Bay
firm in 1983. Mr. Lenfestey was married to the former Josephine Buchanan, for whom Josephine Lenfestey Hall
at the University is named.
In 1926 following studies at Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, N.J., and the University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Mr. Lenfestey began working for Hurlbut, traveling throughout Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula
and establishing coal yards in many communities. The Hurlbut firm, which was founded by his material grandfather,
received coal by boat at its docks on the east side of the Fox River in Green Bay. He advanced to president and
chairman of the board, and in the 1970s served as an officer of the 2nd Century Corporation which was responsible
for development and management of the downtown Holiday Inn. The site of the Hurlbut corporate offices is now the
Holiday Inn City Centre.
An ardent horseman and world traveler, he played polo in Texas and Florida, and was responsible for establishing
polo in De Pere during the 1930s. He was a leader in development of the National Railroad Museum in Northeast
Wisconsin and served as chairman for 14 years. During that time, he underwrote the cost of bringing to the museum
collection the locomotive used as headquarters by General (later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War
11. Mr. Lenfestey traveled to Great Britain to meet with Prince Philip as the museum accepted position of a coach
from Winston Churchill's funeral train and met presidents and other world leaders in his capacities as museum
chairman, executive and citizen.
In 1934, as part of official ceremonies commemorating the 300th anniversary of Jean Nicolet's arrival in the bay
area, Mr. Lenfestey donned a period costume to re-enact Nicolet's landing. "The canoe leaked and his riding boots
were filling up with water," his wife recalled. "He really had to struggle to get to shore. He made an event of
everything." A reporter added: "In his eyes, every morning was stunningly beautiful, adorned with a huge, golden
sun and rife with promise of another eventful day."
He and his wife contributed to the development of UW-Green Bay through philanthropic gifts and their friendship.
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