John Tuschen (1949-2005) was named the first Poet Laureate of Madison, Wisconsin and given the key to the city by mayor Paul Soglin in 1977. He served in that role for over 20 years.

Tuschen published four books of poetry during his lifetime; Junk Mail (Broom Street Press), Thighs, Sighs, and Other Things (Quest Publishing), The Percodan Papers (Quest Publishing), and Tuschenetrics (Quest Publishing), which was published in 1974.  State Street Poetry Sheets was published posthumously.

A video version of his poem “Uncle Harry’s Tombstone” created by Tuschen’s son Jordan Caylor became the official selection at “Zebra 6 Video Poetry Film Festival”, in Berlin, Germany 2012.  [https://vimeo.com/39722318]

Some of his poems have been engraved, along with works of other local poets, into sidewalks in Madison, to serve as a permanent memorial.