Ken Wagnon & Louise Tomlinson Wagnon Wichita Kate Mrkonic Walsh & William J. Walsh Jr Wichita The Hon. Michael E. Ward & Lissa Leonard Ward El Dorado Roger D. Warren & Linda D. Warren, Hanover
David O. Weaver & Barbara A. Weaver, Aurora, CO
Elizabeth Hartley Winetroub Prairie Village
Greg L. Wells & Christine Wells, Liberal
Elizabeth L. Winetroub Fairway
Tom West & Jan Roth Wichita
Jeff L. Wolfe & Barbara Blinn Wolfe Meridian, ID
Stacey Robisch Willenborg & David R. Willenborg Lawrence Delbert L. & Barbara Ossian Williamson Wellington, FL Mark P. Wilson & Charlene J. Wilson, Olathe
Donor Profile
George and Josie Nettels $100,000
G
eorge Nettels Jr. of Pittsburg recalls going to Jayhawk football games as a child in the 1930s. His father taught him early that KU meant family. “My dad lost his father when he was 6 years old, and the University became a father to him,” he explains. “Because of the love my dad had for the University, we kids all have the same affection.” He and his wife, Mary Joanne “Josie” Myers Nettels, ’50, in turn guided their four children to the Hill for college. Like his father, Nettels, e’50, became involved with the Alumni Association, and his commitment has endured through the years. He and his wife became Life Members in the 1940s and quickly became known as stalwart volunteers. During the 1960s and 1970s, George served terms on the national Board of Directors, leading the Association as president (a role now known as national chair) from 1977 to ’78. He proudly notes that his father, George Nettels Sr., e’21, led the Association years before, from 1948 to ’49. Following his terms on the Board, Nettels continued his national leadership as co-chair, with former Phillips Petroleum
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Walter C. Womack & Sheri Seibert Womack Kansas City, MO Jo Letta Laron Woolwine & Thomas C. Woolwine Westwood Hills
Jeffrey S. Worly & Laurie Phillips Worly New Albany, OH Rich Worner & Lorie Walker Worner, Leawood David C. Wysong & Kathryn L. Wysong Mission Hills Richard R. Yoxall & Andrea Groves Yoxall Liberal Scott A. Zerger, Olathe
CEO William Douce, e’41, of the fundraising effort to build the Adams Alumni Center, which opened in 1983. Most recently the Nettels have contributed $100,000 as Presidents Club donors to support the Association’s programs. As the Alumni Center marks its 30th anniversary this year, Nettels recalls that the project began with a phone call he received from Chancellor Archie Dykes; Dick Wintermote, c’51, executive director of the Alumni Association; and Todd Seymour, j’50, KU Endowment president, who wanted to pay him a visit in Pittsburg. When the three arrived, “I knew they hadn’t come for tea or coffee, so I asked, ‘What are you up to?’” Nettels says. “When they explained that they wanted me to help Bill Douce raise money for an alumni center, I couldn’t very well refuse.” Nettels especially remembers the generosity of former Phillips CEO Paul Endacott, e’23, and the Adams family of Bartlesville, Okla., whose major gifts made possible the building of the Center, which is named for Adams family patriarch and former Phillips Petroleum CEO K.S. “Boots” Adams, ’21. He also credits Wintermote and former Association national president Bill Martin, b’49, for the vision to build the Center. “Bill really contributed the genius to the project,” Nettels says. “It sure has lived up to our expectations. It has been a place where we’ve had an awful lot of fun.” George and Josie Nettels photo courtesy of the Nettels
Kurt W. Vollertsen & Rebecca L. Vollertsen Oberlin