Melody Derleth of Beaver Dam knows what the secret is to her status as the Ultimate Fan. “It’s longevity,” she laughs. It’s true that longevity has enabled her to do what few other Badger fans have ever done: attend every home football game for the past 50 years. Since 1957, when her brother. Hank, began playing for the Badgers (he was captain in 1960), Derleth has been a staple on the sidelines.

“I came from a football family,” she explains. “My dad was a coach at Beaver Dam, so that’s where my interest really started. When my brother was playing for UW-Madison, I was a teacher in Racine, but I still came up to all the games. Then I taught in Middleton, so it wasn’t as much of a drive, which definitely helped!”

Derleth has fond memories of all of her days as a Badger fan, especially the early years. “After the games, my brother and I would sit in our car with all his friends. We’d hear stories about all the Badger greats; we really made a lot of good friends during those years.” Those friends include Elroy Hirsch and former UW-Madison Athletic Director Pat Richter, both names that are well-known to the Badger faithful.

Her years as a Badger football fan have allowed her some unique experiences. “I was in invited to the unveiling of Pat Richter’s statue and the reception afterwards. That was just amazing, ”she shares. “ I have also seen every Big Ten stadium in the country. I remember going to Michigan State in the years when the Badgers weren’t so good, and the Michigan fans would look at us like, ‘You came all the way out here for this?” she laughs. “And I always wanted to say, ‘Yes, yes I did.’ But when the Badgers were winning; well, that was a different story. The [opposing] fans looked at us differently then!”

Derleth clearly loves the atmosphere of the games and the exhilaration that the fans and players feel when they emerge victorious. But there are other, more subtle things that Derleth loves about the Badgers, as well. “I love the stories about these small- town kids who come to Madison to play. A lot of them probably never expected to play for the Badgers, and just the fact that they get to wear a UW uniform is special. No matter how good or had the team is, that’s an experience they’ll never forget.”

These words are indicative of Derleth’s commitment to the Badgers. It’s a sign of a true fan that he or she can stand by their team in good times and in bad, through championship seasons and losing streaks. By her unending support over the past five decades, Derleth demonstrates she is a classic example of this, and for that, inside Wisconsin Sports is proud to name her as our Ultimate Fan.

INSIDE WISCONSIN SPORTS