[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING DR. JON WEFALD

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today to memorialize and honor 
one of my great friends and mentor, our former Kansas State University 
President Dr. Jon Wefald who passed away on April 16 after a long and 
illustrious life serving higher education and the State of Kansas. His 
work at K-State brought the university to great heights, and his 
realized dreams will live on forever in K-State lore.
  My wife and I first met Dr. Wefald at a student recruitment dinner in 
Great Bend we were cohosting, where his energy was contagious and 
palpable. He was a young university president with a vision and a 
purpose we all wanted to be part of. He made every student in the room 
know they were each important, and K-State would help them realize 
their dreams. We remained friends up until the time of his passing with 
regular communications and advice. I will miss him.
  Dr. Wefald served as K-State's 12th president from 1986 to 2009 and 
is credited with growing the university into a top 10 land-grant 
university. During his 23 years of leadership, the university added 2.2 
million square feet of new buildings. He also helped philanthropy 
increase from $6 million a year to nearly $100 million annually.
  Under his leadership, K-State quickly became one of the Nation's 
distinguished research and doctoral universities. Enrollment increased 
from 16,000 students to more than 23,000 under his tenure, and with the 
growth in students came a monumental growth in research funding from 
$18 million annually to nearly $134 million. Both of these increases 
have led to astounding innovations from all parts of the university. 
Last, but not least of his achievements, Dr. Wefald was also in charge 
of hiring the iconic football coach Bill Snyder, which led to the 
greatest turnaround in NCAA sports history.
  We all mourn the loss of this beloved K-State president who shaped 
countless students' and faculty members' lives. His leadership, 
passion, and dedication to K-State and the great State of Kansas will 
never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, 
friends, and K-State family. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the wonderful career and life of Mr. Jon Wefald. A true 
inspiration to the State of Kansas, fighting ever fighting for a 
wildcat victory.

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