KU track champion commits $750,000 for scholarship for Olympic sports

LAWRENCE -- A University of Kansas track champion from Wichita has committed $750,000 for a scholarship for Olympic sports, Interim KU Athletic Director A. Drue Jennings announced today.

Ray C. Wyatt, industrial design '58, made provisions in his will to create the Ralph E. Wyatt and Ray C. Wyatt Fund at the Kansas University Endowment Association. The fund, named for Ray and his late father, someday will provide scholarships to students in non-revenue sports, with a preference for athletes in track.

"This is a tremendous gift for KU athletes," Jennings said. "We are especially proud that a member of the legendary track teams assembled by former coach Bill Easton has made this gift. Future members of the KU track team will greatly benefit from Ray's generosity."

Ray's father introduced him to KU athletics as an infant, when Ralph, civil engineering '25, began taking Ray to football and basketball games as often as possible. By the time Ray was a Topeka High School track athlete in the early 1950s, he knew he wanted a track scholarship to KU.

Ray joined the team during an era of outstanding KU athletes, including track and basketball star Wilt Chamberlain, Olympian discus champion Al Oerter and distance runner Wes Santee. Ray said Easton, track coach from 1948 until 1965, also gave less gifted athletes the chance to prove themselves.

"What I liked about him was that he provided anyone the opportunity to participate," Ray said. "He taught me life lessons that I still hold. Looking back, it was a real character builder to work with him."

Ray excelled in the 440-yard relay at KU. In 1956, his team won the mile relay at the outdoor Big 7 Championship. The following year, he won the 440-yard dash and was on the winning mile relay team for both the indoor and outdoor conference championships.

A few years after graduation and serving in the National Guard, Ray went to work at Boeing Aircraft Co. He started out his 30-year career with the company as a production illustrator, drawing equipment assemblies by hand.

When Boeing laid him off in 1971, he joined Pier One Imports, where he rose through the retailer's ranks to become a district manager of 14 stores in the Chicago area. After eight years with the company, however, he returned to Boeing to become a facilities planning manager. He retired as a service group manager in 1999.

Ray said he wanted to establish a scholarship to carry on the Wyatt name and because he recognized the importance of scholarships he and his teammates received.

"If it hadn't been for scholarships, there were a number of guys that would never have been able to go to KU," he said. "If I can do anything, I'd like to help the non-revenue sports by giving those athletes the opportunity to attend KU."

Ray's gift counts toward the $500 million goal of KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in KU history. KU Endowment is conducting KU First on behalf of KU through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.