LAWRENCE, KS — With two generations of the family playing winter football for the University of Kansas and decades of philanthropic support for KU athletics, one might assume the family’s recent donation to the KU Gateway District was born out of love for the sport. But there was something else that drew three generations of Jayhawks to make this donation.
“The main motivation was to support KU’s academic mission,” said Wint Winter Jr., who followed in the footsteps of his father, Wint Winter Sr., playing football for KU, earning his law degree in 1978 and serving in the Kansas Senate.
Like his father, who met his wife Nancy (Morsbach) Winter at KU, Wint Jr. married fellow Jayhawk Mary (Boyd) Winter, who earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1975. Throughout his career, Wint has been a staunch advocate for higher education and has served on the Kansas Board of Regents since 2021. Their three children are also all KU graduates: Katherine Winter, who earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 2002, Molly (Winter) DeLeone, who received a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies in 2004, and Elizabeth (Winter) Lewis, who earned her bachelor of fine arts in 2008. All four of Wint’s siblings also attended KU.
“The Winters are a true purple and blue Jayhawk family that has shown unwavering support to Kansas Athletics and the University for decades,” said KU Athletic Director Travis Goff. “This generous donation to the Gateway Project demonstrates an understanding of its importance to the future of KU, and we deeply appreciate their commitment.”
Wint noted that sports can be a powerful catalyst for advancing a university’s academic excellence, citing as just one example the record-breaking enrollment numbers in fall 2023 following successful football and basketball seasons.
“Our family is incredibly fortunate that this donation will not only support KU’s football program and athletic team,” Wint said, “but more importantly, the university’s academic programs.”
Wint was part of the KU football team that played in the 1973 Liberty Bowl under former coach Don Fambrough. He says the sport is more important to him now than it was when he was playing football because of the lessons it teaches.
“Sport taught me discipline, not to give up and to keep going,” he said. “Thank God, studying law was a little easier for me than football.”
“We are grateful to the Winter family for their generosity to KU and their continued commitment to higher education,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “Their donation underscores the transformative role of the Gateway District for the entire university.”
The family’s charitable giving to KU, which includes support of KU athletics, the KU School of Law, the KU Alumni Association and the Pi Beta Phi Scholarship Fund, began with Wint, Sr. and his wife, Nancy.
“KU meant so much to him,” Nancy said. “He always believed – even in the early days when we couldn’t give much – that we should give what we could.”
The roots of the family’s philanthropy and service date back to 1869, when Wint’s great-great-great grandfather, Mathias “Ship” Winter, an early settler in Lecompton, Kansas, donated land to establish the area’s first school district and a one-room schoolhouse. Just a few years ago, the family raised money to restore the building, Winter School number 70, which now serves as a museum and event venue.
Through their family foundation, the Winter Family Fund, they also award grants to numerous nonprofit organizations that support at-risk and vulnerable families and children in Douglas, Franklin and Johnson Counties in Kansas and Taos County in New Mexico.
When the family discussed donating to the KU Gateway District, everyone agreed it was an ideal way to support the university. This project will remodel the north entrance to campus and create a hotel, multi-purpose rooms for conferences and improved soccer facilities – all things that will strengthen KU’s ability to attract and retain students.
In addition, it is expected to increase student enrollment and boost the economy in Lawrence and beyond.
Wint and Mary have a front-row seat to the KU Gateway District’s development, living just blocks from David Booth Memorial Stadium. On game days, their home serves as a nest for the winter crowd, which includes their nine grandchildren.
“We can hear when the Campanile rings when we score a touchdown, we can hear the KU marching band – everything,” Elizabeth said. “I grew up with the stadium and then I studied at KU, so it’s great to bring my kids back, celebrate with them and see this tradition through their eyes.”
