“Not as Good as Babcock Though”

Local WWII AND Gulf War (Desert Storm) Veteran’s ‘100th Birthday Bucket List!’

Recently, the family of Dr. Lewis B. Harned reached out to Babcock Dairy to simply ask for a few of our Babcock Dairy cups to add to a display at the Celebration of Life they planned following his death at the age of 101 in April. They provided a photo of Lewis enjoying Babcock Dairy ice cream in our store. We were more than happy to oblige, the photo was heartwarming, and we are grateful for his obvious enjoyment of Babcock Dairy ice cream.

Curious about why our cups were part of his memorial celebration with family and friends, we asked what the significance of the cups might be. Then, we learned more of his story. Not only did he love our ice cream, we discovered he included a visit to Babcock Dairy in his 100th birthday “bucket list” celebration in 2024!

A graduate of Wisconsin High School in Madison in 1942, he went on to serve in WWII in Italy, where from 1943 to 1944 Dr. Harned served as a volunteer ambulance driver in the American Field Service. He then returned to Madison, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1947, and then on to medical school. While Babcock Dairy had not yet opened in its present location in Babcock Hall, the UW Dairy program was already thriving as a leader in the Wisconsin Dairy industry. Babcock Hall was just being built when Dr. Harned completed his medical residency in Utah. He never in fact visited our actual Babcock Dairy store location.

From his days as a University of Wisconsin-Madison student and subsequent medical practice, to a highly decorated military career, including his service in WWII and in the first Gulf War where he rose through the ranks to become commander of a military hospital near the Iraqi border in Saudi Arabia, he only enjoyed our ice cream from other locations who sold our ice cream, including at Memorial Union Terrace and other ice cream shops, and at home, buying our ice cream at local grocery stores who carry our products.

After his 99th birthday, on 8/17/2023, as a way to enjoy his upcoming 100th birthday all year long, his family, including daughter Linda Harned, suggested that he put together a list of “100 things he never did but wanted to in his first 99 years,” and that they would help him complete the entire list of 100 “Bucket List” adventures before his 100th birthday. According to Linda, “He did indoor sky diving, adaptive water and snow skiing, curling, salmon fishing, glass blowing and volunteering for Veterans and children. He actually accomplished 106 items before his 100th birthday.” The Babcock Dairy Store made the list. We were #91, and on June 21, 2024, Dr. Lewis Harned made his inaugural visit to our store at the age of 99!

“He loved to try many flavors of ice cream but no matter where we went and how much he enjoyed his frozen treat, you could always count on his comment “not as good as Babcock though.”

– Linda Harned

We are so proud to have been a part of this story. Thank you posthumously Dr. Harned, for your love of our ice cream, your service, and for gracing us with a stop on your “100th Birthday Bucket List.”

Photos courtesy of Linda Harned.