Known in his day as one of Stoughton’s strongest boosters, Eggleson had leadership roles in many of the community’s important business and service organizations, but perhaps his biggest contribution to the city was his role in reviving Stoughton’s signature event, the Syttende Mai Festival.

According to information from the Stoughton Hall of Fame, the festival commemorates the signing of the Norwegian Constitution at Eidsvoll, Norway on May 17, 1814, at which time Norway declared an end to nearly 500 years of Danish rule. Stoughton had hosted Syttende Mai observances of varying size and scope as far back as late 1860s, however the celebration was suspended for more than a decade by World War II, when Norway was an occupied country, and for a number of years after the war.

In 1952, a Stoughton Chamber of Commerce committee led by Eggleson revived the celebration with a small observance consisting of a Saturday night dance and entertainment, a movie, Norwegian food and refreshments, and window displays. In 1953, with Eggleson spearheading the effort, the number of events and activities grew significantly, including the return of the annual Syttende Mai Parade.

Eggleson also was very supportive of the efforts of high school teacher Jeanne Reek to form the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers, a troupe established in 1953 that has gone on to win international acclaim.

Over the years, the festival has grown immensely, and today, under the auspices of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, the event draws tens of thousands of visitors to Stoughton and it is recognized as the world’s largest Syttende Mai Festival held outside of Norway. What started out modestly has evolved into a three-day event encompassing all aspects of Norwegian culture – art, music dance, fashion, cuisine, crafts, customs and genealogy.

For his efforts in reviving the celebration, the Stoughton Jaycees presented Eggleson with the organization’s Stoughton Young Man of the Year Award in 1953.

Born Feb. 26, 1918 in Stoughton, Eggleson was the eldest of four children born to Elmer and Anna Eggleson, proprietors of a grocery store located on Stoughton’s east side. A graduate of Stoughton High School, where he lettered in football and basketball, Eggleson later graduated from Madison Business College. He was a World War II veteran, serving as an infantryman in the European Theater, where he was awarded the Purple Heart.

In 1947, he married the former Darlene Skindingsrude of Whitewater and the couple had five children. An annual family tradition saw the Egglesons and their children walking in the Syttende Mai Parade dressed in Norwegian costumes and pushing an 1800s-era Victorian buggy.