Born on April 22, 1818 in Livermore, Maine, Cadwallader Washburn began his career as a teacher in Maine. In 1842 he moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He served Wisconsin as a congressman from 1855 to 1861. He moved to La Crosse in 1859. After serving heroically in the second Regiment of the Wisconsin cavalry during the Civil War, he returned to congress from 1867 to 1871 and was elected Governor of Wisconsin
from 1872 to 1874. Washburn served on the Board of Regents for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and became the only lifetime regent given that honor by the legislature. Known for his dedication to learning and generous support of education, Washburn donated his mansion in Madison to help establish Edgewood College. He built and equipped the Washburn Observatory at UW-Madison and donated $50,000 to build the La Crosse Public Library which was the second largest in the state at the time.

As a result of his insight in business, science, and technology, the Washburn Crosby Co. was the first to develop the Hungarian system of rotary milling of wheat in the U.S. The Washburn Crosby Company won gold, silver and bronze medals at the first International Millers Exhibition and has been known as Gold Medal Flour ever since. It was said that Washburn "entered the milling business when it was a trade and left it as a science." Washburn Crosby Co. became a part of General Mills in 1927. The local radio station WCCO derived its call letters from Washburn Crosby Co.

As the namesake for the Academy, Cadwallader Washburn continues
to be recognized as an example of a life committed to
education, science, technology and public service. The motto of the
Gold Medal Flour Company "Eventually, why not now," has been
adopted by the Academy to provide incentive for positive
educational change.

The Academy demonstrates an effective regional business partnership with education to improve teaching and learning in schools. This Academy was cooperatively developed by teachers and administrators with the support of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Western Wisconsin Technical College and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.