Hanover Boy Receives President Obama’s Signature on Cast

By MICHAEL MILLER | For The Prairie Advocate News

HANOVER – The last few months have been tough ones for Riley Wolter of Hanover. His beloved grandfather, William Wolter, passed away suddenly on August 31st of this year. Then in September Riley broke his arm on the school playground.

So maybe someone upstairs was trying to balance his scales, just a little, when he was fortunate enough to receive the autograph of the President; not once, but twice. He also was lucky enough to get First Lady Michelle Obama’s signature as well.

On August 15th, at Stone Cliff Winery in Dubuque, Iowa, Riley and his father, Ray, attended a campaign event and Riley had two books autographed by both the President and Mrs. Obama. Later, when the President came back to Washington Park on Locust Street in Dubuque on Saturday, November 3rd for another campaign swing, Riley and his parents were fortunate enough to get tickets that put them in close proximity to the stage.

After a long wait of seven hours with no chairs to rest in, Riley and his folks made their way toward the front and says that the President saw his cast and asked him what had happened. Riley told him he had fallen off of some monkey bars, and the President said that he would sign the cast for him.

Riley also received the signature of “Grey’s Anatomy” actress, Kate Walsh, who was on the stump for Obama in Iowa.

Riley, an eleven year old fifth grader at River Ridge, said he was a fan of the President even before he met him, and that in the mock election held in his class at school, the President also won the vote. Excited by the general election, Riley was allowed to stay up until 10:30 to see the results, which he was happy with.

Riley’s honor didn’t go unnoticed by his friends, either. His friend, Stevie Morris, rubbed his head against the cast for good luck.

Wherever life takes him, it’s a safe bet that Riley won’t soon forget the 2012 Presidential campaign, or his unexpected but happy encounters.