Herald Waite

K-State pride: The purple hat atop 92-year-old Herald Waite’s head lets everyone — even strangers — know how much he admires the university.

K-State connection: Growing up in the 1920s and 30s, Herald wasn’t sure if a college education was in his future. He experienced the Roaring Twenties followed by a decade of dust, depression and hardship.

As a 42-year-old college student, Herald enrolled at K-State after he retired from serving 20 years in the U.S. Army. He completed his degree in business, benefiting from the G.I. Bill.

Why he gave: “Attending K-State was a very rewarding experience,” he said. “I learned more than just the skills I needed for my degree. I learned life skills, too. One of the most rewarding experiences was serving as the executive secretary for the K-State Scholarships and Loans Committee composed of every dean on campus and chaired by Dr. Chester Peters. It was a rare privilege hearing and helping students with their needs.”.

Leaving a legacy: Herald established the Mary Melba and Herald Bliss Waite Business Endowment at K-State through a bequest — a gift made through his will. Naming K-State in his will enables Herald to retain total control of his assets during his lifetime, but still support deserving students with a portion of his estate. His endowment will last in perpetuity, benefiting many K-State students forever.

“I am a believer in K-State, and I wanted to do something for my alma mater,” he said. Because of Herald’s kindness, K-State will be able to touch the lives of others — and just like Herald’s purple hat, his generosity for K-State will not go unnoticed.