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Fulton fan: Framer is ‘always there for the cause’

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Roger Millar cuts a custom matte at his shop in his Fulton Township home.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Roger Millar of Fulton Township has been custom framing for 25 years.

FULTON TOWNSHIP — It wasn’t Roger Millar’s idea to have a big sale in honor of his 25th anniversary framing artwork and photos, often to raise money for charity.

And it certainly wasn’t his idea to call the newspapers about it, he said.

But Millar’s friends said he deserves a fuss after so many years quietly raising money for local causes.

“He’s just done so much for so many people, he deserves to be recognized,” said Barb Mallon, co-owner of the Culver’s restaurants in Newville and Janesville.

Mallon often displays and sells Millar’s framed prints at her restaurants. It was her idea to have a big sale Saturday at the Newville restaurant as Millar, 84, takes a step back from his work.

Framing started as a hobby to keep the Fulton Township man occupied when he retired 25 years ago. Millar matted and framed prints for family, friends and customers and occasionally offered works to charity auctions.

“I was going to do nothing, and then I decided I was going to do that,” he said.

His charity work revved up 15 years ago when he hooked up with Bob Johnson of Badger State Auction & Real Estate, who at the time was just launching his auctioning career. Johnson estimates the two of them have raised millions of dollars for charity through more than 150 auctions.

The two have traveled all over southern Wisconsin raising money for youth athletics, families in need, veterans and other causes. Millar is especially devoted to groups that offer positive activities for kids. He also raises a lot of money for Fulton Church.

“Roger’s got a big heart, and he’s always there for the cause,” Johnson said. “He’s always willing to take the extra step to see to it that these organizations that hold the events make money.”

Millar frames many prints involving nature or rural life, including work by Sam Timm, Charles Peterson and Terry Redlin. He also sells framed pictures of athletes such as Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Hank Aaron.

He was preparing dozens of prints for the sale last week, stacking framed pictures of birds, snowy villages and Brett Favre in a Vikings uniform on the furniture.

Over the years, he’s gotten to know many of the artists and distributors and sometimes gets works donated or discounted for the auctions. He even has taken artists on trips to Wyoming and Utah to hunt and paint.

But Millar’s eyesight is fading, and it’s getting harder for him to do his work. His wife, Charmaine, double-checks his pieces and takes him to get materials, he said.

He plans to continue framing work for family and friends but probably won’t do as many fundraisers in the future, he said.

“My wife is starting to rebel,” he said with a chuckle.