Jeff Pagels received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management from U.W. at Steven Point in 1970 and a M.S. degree in Public Environmental Administration from U.W. Green Bay in 1986.  Before coming to work for the Wisconsin DNR in 1976, he served with VISTA, (Domestic Peace Corps) in Michigan’s U.P. and then was employed by the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development District in Escanaba, MI.  He has spent his entire professional career working to improve park and recreation opportunities at the federal, state and most importantly, the local level.  He retired in June of 2004 after more than 30 ears as Local Government Outreach Team Leader in the DNR’s Northeast Region where he annually carried a workload of almost 200 active grant projects, which ranged from small local playground projects to multi-million dollar harbors of refuge for recreational boaters.

Prior to 1984, Jeff was a top-notch able-bodied athlete.  In College, he was an All-American Swimmer.  As a teenager and into his thirties, he was a top ranked canoe and kayak racer having won many marathon races all over the United States.  He also completed the prestigious 55-mile Birke Cross Country Ski Race 6 times as well as many triathalons.

Jeff Pagels received his label, disabled, in 1984 when a tree fell on him.  A wheelchair user since then, he has gone on to become the USA’s most decorated cross-country skier with 5 Paralympic medals.  In 1995, Jeff turned to competing with himself rather than beating up on other people.  His venue is all outdoors including many of the highest places in this world.  He is always trying to go deeper into the woods and climbing higher.  Jeff spends much of his time helping others to challenge themselves in the outdoors while enjoying his retirement after 30 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.