Pumped up about Packers: Retirees are off to Dallas

Patience has been a virtue for UW-Green Bay retirees and pumped-up Packers backers Bob and Jan Pum.

In 1969, art professor Bob Pum flew to Green Bay for a job interview at the University. While he was in town, he decided to stop by 1265 Lombardi Ave. and apply for season tickets, just in case he got the job.

He heard back regarding the job in days (he got it!) but it would take 25 long years for the tickets. It wasn’t until 1994 and the advent of the Favre Era that the Pums rose to the top of the waiting list and were able to purchase season tickets. (That waiting list today, incidentally, has grown to 81,000 names.)

This year, the Pums got lucky and found themselves among the relatively few Green Bay fans to win access to Super Bowl tickets via the season ticket lottery. There was no doubt they were headed to Dallas.

Jan Pum, UW-Green Bay’s longtime former tennis coach, sent a report from The Villages, Florida, where the Pums make their winter home, that snowbirds and residents alike are cheering for the Packers.

In fact, there was a large gathering Sunday in connection with their community’s golf scramble. (Bob and Jan played alongside former UW-Green Bay Dean of Students Sue Keihn and her husband, Dennis, who also worked at UW-Green Bay in athletics and advancement.)

“We wore our Packers attire and received so many well wishes at the dinner,” Jan writes, “that I felt brave enough to have everyone stand to join me in the ‘Raji Dance.’ We are so proud of our Packers and feel blessed for this experience.”

You may also like...