In July 2004, Earl was recognized at the 12th Annual Outreach Awards for his acknowledgment of the needs of the gay and lesbian community during his term in office; he received the organization's Political Courage Award. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Transmission Company which assumed ownership, operation, planning, maintenance and monitoring of all the electrical transmission assets formerly owned by a number of Wisconsin utility companies, cooperatives and municipal utilities. He was formerly a partner in one of the largest law firms (more than 400 lawyers) in Wisconsin, Quarles and Brady.