The Governor's Commission on the U.S.S. Wisconsin was created by Executive Order Number 12 on April 14, 1987 to organize the state's celebration of the re-commissioning of the United States Navy battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin (BB-64). The Governor served as Honorary Chairman and James W. McVey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation served as Chairman. The Commission had four main objectives:
- plan activities celebrating the return of the U.S.S. Wisconsin to service;
- maintain an ongoing relationship between the State of Wisconsin and the ship;
- devise ways for the U.S.S. Wisconsin to promote the state throughout the world as it travels on its assigned duties;
- work with the Wisconsin Historical Society to create a permanent U.S.S. Wisconsin exhibit.
The commission was disbanded when the U.S.S. Wisconsin was re-commissioned in November 1988.
1989 Wisconsin Act 31 created the Board of the U.S.S. Wisconsin, which continued and expanded the mission of the Governor's Commission on the U.S.S. Wisconsin. Duties included communication with the battleship's home port officials, development of programs for the benefit of the ship's crew, distribution of public information about the ship's history and operations, and acceptance of gifts and bequests to support its mission. The board also cooperated with the State Historical Society to present a permanent exhibit on the history of the two battleships named “Wisconsin.” In 1991, the federal government announced that the U.S.S. Wisconsin would be decommissioned. Consequently, the legislature enacted 1991 Wisconsin Act 269, repealing the statutory authorization for the board effective July 1, 1994.
