• Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Happenings

Return to Listing
CONDOLENCES: Oscar C. Boldt—the Transformative Leader of the Construction Powerhouse—Passes at 96

June 15th, 2020 | by NEWCA

Oscar C Boldt—who died on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 of natural causes at age 96—was a “towering man with an equally towering legacy,” as described by the Appleton Post Crescent.

He died peacefully with Pat, his wife of 70 years, and Tom, his son, by his side. The family is holding a private funeral and will plan a public memorial service at a later date explained an executive with Boldt.

Boldt was known for many positive attributes and accomplishments, but most especially for transforming his small family company on the verge of bankruptcy into a national powerhouse with annual revenue of near $1 billion.

Under his leadership, Boldt oversaw the construction of many landmarks in Northeast Wisconsin including Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, several buildings for Lawrence University, St. Elizabeth Hospital and ThedaCare—including its Regional Cancer Center and Encircle Health.

Oscar Boldt was also well known as a man of great integrity, known for his honesty and strong ethical behavior and his fairness to subcontractors. In response to such praise, Boldt once offered this humble observation according to Engineering News Record: “I don’t know that I’m a problem solver, but I work at it. Usually, they don’t give it [the problem] to me until it’s pretty well beaten up.”

According to the Post Crescent:

“…he had a dry wit and humble demeanor.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Chamber of Commerce’s business hall of fame.
The prior year, he received the chamber’s Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Award from the same group.

"’I told them my speech and they said, 'that's what you said last year,’ he said at a cocktail reception just before the second event. ‘I'm making up a new one now. I guarantee it will be short.’
When asked, he agreed to put his handprints in the wall near the entrance to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, similar to what movie stars do at the old Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

But he insisted they leave off a nameplate.

"’You're not supposed to know they're mine,’ he said.”


You can read more about Boldt’s life and legacy here and here.

  • NEW Construction Alliance
  • 2740 W Mason St, BT344
  • Green Bay, WI 54303