Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Shannon & Goodspeed Family Legacy
Photographed by McGhiever, July 26, 2026
1. The Shannon & Goodspeed Family Legacy Marker
Rhoda Koch Hildebrandt '25
Helen Hildebrandt '49
Arthur Shannon '50
Michael Shannon '90
Mary Sue Goodspeed '81
The Memorial Union is a gathering place for everyone and offers learning and leadership opportunities that help students build life skills and lifelong memories. For Michael (1980) and Mary Sue Goodspeed (1981) Shannon, Memorial Union was important socially, intellectually, and romantically. It's where Mike, chair of the Theta Chi Ski for Cancer fundraiser, first met Mary Sue, the Ski for Cancer Snow Queen.
They were not the first in the family to gain an education and fine life partners on campus. Mike's grandparents, Harold and Rhoda Koch (1925) Hildebrandt and his parents Arthur (1950) and Helen (1949) Shannon established a legacy of loyalty and generosity to the university they loved. Mary Sue followed her sister, Mary Beth (1978) to UW-Madison.
Mike is a naming partner at the Wisconsin School of Business, and together Mike and Mary Sue have created a named chair in the School of Human Ecology. They became involved with and supporters in the Memorial Union Reinvestment and Alumni Park. The Goodspeed Family Pier, installed in 2013, is named for Mary Sue's family. In 2014, the Union Theater's Shannon Hall and Shannon Sunset Lounge were named in Mike and Mary Sue's honor.
"Supporting the university is how we say 'thank you' to a school that saw our family safely through two World Wars, introduced us to the loves of our lives and our best friends, gave us the intellectual foundation for our careers and has allowed us to enjoy a family tradition that will continue on for generations." -Michael Shannon
The Shannon and Goodspeed families represent more than 100 years of Badger spirit, a spirit that invites all Badgers to
Surpass what was. Achieve what could be. Go where dreams lead.
Mary Sue Goodspeed Shannon & Mike Shannon
"Our family has been blessed and strengthened with nearly a century of fond Badger memories." -Michael Shannon '80
Erected by the
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.
Location. 43° 4.615′ N, 89° 23.994′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It can be reached from the intersection of the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path and the Memorial Union Plaza, on the left when traveling west. The marker is on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, on the lakeshore behind Memorial Union. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Langdon Street, Madison WI 53706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Stage for All (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line);
Photographed by McGhiever, July 26, 2026
2. The Shannon & Goodspeed Family Legacy Marker on the UW-Madison lakeshore
Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 10, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
