June 15, 1999
The late William W. Benefiel, M.D., and Phyllis Benefiel, of La Canada, Calif., both graduates of KU, have given 200 acres of property near Medicine Lodge to the Kansas University Endowment Association. The Benefiels designated their gift for the unrestricted purposes of the School of Medicine.
"I've always appreciated the great education I got at KU as an undergraduate and a medical student," William Benefiel said in an interview before his recent death. "Now, it's my hope this will help the medical school continue to improve teaching and educational opportunities for students."
Benefiel received a bachelor of arts degree from KU in 1944 and medical degree from the School of Medicine in 1947. He interned at the University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston and began his residency at Winter Veterans Hospital in Topeka. In 1951, he was called into the Navy to serve during the Korean War. He completed his residency in Oakland, Calif., and became the only physician for the 1,200 member crew aboard the repair ship USS Hector.
In 1953, Benefiel settled in La Canada and began practicing at the Pasadena Tumor Institute, one of the first cancer organizations in the state. During his tenure there, he became head of the departments of internal medicine and oncology.
In 1970, Benefiel established a private practice specializing in oncology and internal medicine and served on the medical staffs at St. Luke's Hospital and Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and the teaching staff at the University of Southern California.
He retired in 1989, but worked as a volunteer in the CT/MRI Department at Huntington Hospital for eight years, assisting with the daily operations of the department.
In 1945, Benefiel married Phyllis M. Wickert, who received a bachelor of arts degree from KU in 1944. She became a dietitian and worked at St. Luke Hospital in Kansas City while her husband completed medical school. The couple had three children.
Phyllis Benefiel is a lifetime member of the KU Alumni Association. As a couple, the Benefiels provided ongoing support for the KU School of Medicine. Phyllis Benefiel is an active member of the La Canada Presbyterian Church where she has served as a deacon. William Benefiel was a deacon and elder.
The Benefiel's gift will be administered by the KU Endowment Association, an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management foundation for the University of Kansas.
Story by Mary Wharff