Wefald remembered as leader who made Kansas State ‘relevant’

By JOHN HANNA
Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jon Wefald is being remembered as a Kansas State University president for more than two decades who increased its enrollment, improved academic programs and boosted research funding — while finally finding a coach who could win football games. Kansas State says Wefald died Saturday at age 84 and The Manhattan, Kansas, Mercury, reports that he suffered a heart attack at his home in Minnesota. Wefald was Kansas State president from 1986 until the end of the 2008-09 school year. His best known decision might have been hiring Bill Snyder as football coach. He also was a former head of the Minnesota State university system. Pat Bosco, a former Kansas State vice president for student life, says Wefald “moved our school from very good to great, but most importantly, he made us relevant.”