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1 of 1977 Retrieved from the La Crosse Tribune

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Imagefile	People\Gundersen_Carroll.jpg
Name	Gundersen, Carroll
Other Name	Carroll McCarty Gundersen
Birth Date	6/22/1902
Birthplace	Edwardsville, Illinois
Deceased	10/1/1989
Place of Death	La Crosse, WI
Father	Ralph McCarty
Spouse	Dr. Alf Helge Gundersen (1898-1986)
Children	Dr. A. Erik Gundersen Signe Gundersen Schroeder Margaret "Marit" Gundersen Kulleseid
Occupation	Homemaker Political activist Community service activist Philanthropist
Role	Political
Education	St. Mary's Institute -- attended before transfer to Wellesley Wellesley College -- graduated Phi Beta Kappa (high honors) in 1924
Places of Residence	Edwardsville, IL Buffalo, NY Wellesley, MA La Crosse, WI
Notes	Carroll McCarty was born June 22, 1902 in Edwardsville, Illinois, but spent most of her teenage years in the state of New York. She attended St. Mary's Institute in Buffalo before transferring to Wellesley College, where she became politically and socially active within her community. While attending Wellesley, she was a member of the Shakespeare Society, president of the sophomore class, and college government president. She graduated from Wellesley with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1924 and returned to New York, where she met Alf H. Gundersen during his residency at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. The couple married on February 10, 1926 and moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin. While in La Crosse, Carroll became very active in the local community. She served as chairman of the College Club Committee in 1930, and advocated for creative classes like drama for children. In 1935, she was elected president of the Recreational Council of La Crosse. After traveling to Europe in 1939, Carroll became even more adamant in her role in the community and felt obligated to spread political and community awareness. In 1940, she joined the La Crosse league of the League of Women Voters. While with the league, she served as local president from 1944 to 1948, state president from 1952 to 1954, national finance chairman from 1956 to 1958, national vice president from 1958 to 1960, chairman of the education fund from 1960 to 1968, and chairman of the 50th anniversary fund drive from 1968 to 1972. Over the years, she also served in varying capacities and leadership positions for several other organizations, including: the Great Lakes Region Girl Scouts, the Governor's Citizens Committee on Public School Education, the County Commission on Reorganization of School Districts, the President's White House Safety Council, the La Crosse Symphony Board, the La Crosse County and national American Red Cross boards, the Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund, the Wellesley College board of trustees, the American Association of University Women's national board, the Governor's United Nations Day Committee, the Young Women's Christian Association's national board, the La Crosse County Medical Auxiliary, the American Association of the United States, the La Crosse Historical Sites Commission, the Governor's Commission of Highway Safety, the La Crosse Board of Education, and others. During her years of service, Carroll also helped organize the local American Red Cross mobile blood drive, traveled over 40,000 miles, and raised over $11 million dollars for the Education Fund, Overseas Education Fund, and national voting rights, among other deeds. Her hard work did not go unnoticed, as in 1949 she was named the first and one of few women to receive the "Man of the Year" award from the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, earning her national recognition. She was later recognized as Wisconsin Woman of the Year in 1968. In 1974, she was appointed by the governor to study gender role stereotypes in Wisconsin schools, and in 1975 she received an Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College. She passed away on October 1, 1989 after 3 years as a widow to her husband of 60 years, Dr. Alf H. Gundersen, survived by her three children, Dr. A. Erik Gundersen, Signe Schroeder (née Gundersen), and Margaret "Marit" Kulleseid (née Gundersen), and her many grandchildren. Carroll believed adamantly in the importance of education and political awareness, community and national service, and empowering and teaching women. She was a strong leader and a role model to many women of her time due to her ability balance family, politics, community service, women's rights, and other social obligations. Her philanthropic legacy lives on in her and her husband's 1977 donation of their farm, High Hope Springs, which would eventually become Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center, as well as the Carroll McCarty Gundersen Women's Fund, which provides financial aid to the Women's Fund of Greater La Crosse, a fund that supports the education, health, and self-sufficiency of women, provides opportunities to women, and encourages women to engage with community service and philanthropy.
Image Caption	Retrieved from the La Crosse Tribune

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