MADISON, Wis. — As a three-year letterwinner in men’s basketball for Wisconsin in the mid-1950s playing in the UW Field House, Curt Mueller never could have imagined the scope of facilities available for UW student-athletes. Now his generosity will helped a new generation of Badgers for years to come.
A 1957 UW-Madison graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Mueller put that degree to good use, joining his father’s Prairie du Sac pharmacy as a registered pharmacist in 1959. In addition to utilizing his academic knowledge gained at UW, Mueller also delved into his athletic training to transform an industry.
Mueller was sensitive to the specific needs of athletes and revolutionized the sports medicine category by being the first company to provide state-of-the-art sports medicine at the retail level. Today, Mueller Sports Medicine is a company dedicated to athletes and their bodies.
Mueller’s corporate headquarters in Wisconsin includes a complex of buildings housing research and development, laboratories, manufacturing, three warehouses and a sophisticated shipping operation. Mueller products can be found in 76 countries around the globe. After almost 50 years, Mueller Sports Medicine continues to be a family-owned company.
A long-time supporter of Badgers athletics, Mueller made a generous $1.2 million gift commitment in support of the Stephen M. Bennett Student-Athlete Performance Center and the renovation of the McClain Center, which included the athletic training space.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Center is located on the lower level of the McClain Center, across from the Leafblad Football Team Suite. The 13,127 square foot area features multiple therapy pools, including an underwater treadmill, rehabilitation and treatment areas, and preventive taping and examination rooms. In addition, it houses an X-ray suite, three physicians’ offices and a sports performance area.
“I am proud to be part of the Stephen M. Bennett Student-Athlete Performance Center through the naming of the sports medicine facility, the Mueller Sports Medicine Center,” Mueller said. “My experience as a student-athlete at Wisconsin provided me with a world-class education and experiences needed to succeed in the business world, and I am happy to give back to improve the lives of current and future student-athletes. Sports medicine is an important aspect of the student-athlete experience and I want Wisconsin to be able to provide the best in sports medicine-related care.”
“Having coached for a number of years, I understand the extreme importance of the sports medicine care our student-athletes receive,” Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “With the help of Curt Mueller’s generosity, we are able to give our student-athletes the best care possible in a state-of-the-art facility. I’ve known Curt personally for a number of years and love his passion for the Badgers. We are very appreciative of his support for UW student-athletes.”