Memories of attending Western Carolina University throughout the glory days of Catamount
sports impressed a retired furnishings company government and his spouse, already longtime
supporters of the establishment, to take extra steps to assist enhance WCU’s ageing
athletics infrastructure.
Gerald Kiser, former chief government officer of La-Z-Boy Inc., and partner Kay just lately
made items and pledges totaling $100,000 towards athletics facilities enhancements
at WCU via the continuing “Fill the Western Sky” fundraising marketing campaign.
The third complete fundraising marketing campaign within the college’s historical past, “Fill the
Western Sky” is the primary to emphasize searching for philanthropic help for facilities
utilized by Catamount student-athletes.
Jerry and Kay Kiser are 1969 graduates of WCU – he with a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise
administration and she or he with a bachelor’s diploma in elementary schooling.
He retired as CEO and president of La-Z-Boy in 2003, becoming a member of the corporate in 1990 after
spending 20 years at Broyhill Furniture. She is a retired educator who taught at Rutherfordton
Middle School in Rutherford County and Gamewell Middle School and Lower Creek Elementary
School in Caldwell County.
Now residents of Irmo, South Carolina, the Kisers have contributed to their alma mater
for 47 consecutive years, together with donations to the Catamount Club, males’s cross nation
group, a soccer subject turf substitute undertaking, males’s and ladies’s golf applications,
the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, the College of Business and a number of other educational
scholarship funds.
In recognition of the Kisers’ newest gift, workplace house situated inside a $37 million
enlargement on the west facet of E.J. Whitmire Stadium can be named the Jerry and Kay
Kiser Coach’s Office, stated Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for development. The WCU Board
of Trustees permitted the naming at its March assembly.
“Jerry and Kay Kiser have given of their time, their expertise and their treasure for
a long time, and the college is healthier thanks to their contributions,” Pendry stated.
“This new dedication to help us in our efforts to make sorely wanted enhancements
to athletics facilities is really appreciated. We look ahead to honoring their generosity
as we unveil our stadium renovations later this yr.”
Dubbed “the Western Skybox,” the brand new facility is at the moment below building and
anticipated to be accomplished for the 2026 soccer season. In addition to house for coaches
places of work, it additionally contains an upgraded media middle and enhanced hospitality space.
Jerry Kiser stated he and his spouse had been keen to be part of a rising quantity of alumni and
associates who’re making marketing campaign items towards the renovation and building of athletics
facilities at WCU as a result of of their shared ardour for the Catamounts that developed
throughout their pupil years.
“Sports have at all times been an element of our lives. After taking part in sports in our
adolescence, we transitioned to changing into spectators at WCU. Watching basketball
legend Henry Logan in a packed Reid Gym and the thrill he created, we fell in
love with faculty basketball,” he stated.
“We additionally loved the soccer sport day ambiance within the outdated stadium behind the library
and the school rooms. All of these experiences fostered our love of Catamount athletics,”
he stated.
Then, as usually happens after commencement, life occurred – careers, house, chores, youngsters
and grandchildren.
“Unfortunately, our work carried us to many different areas, and we had been primarily
restricted to an occasional Homecoming soccer sport and maintaining via college
info,” he stated.
Later in life, the couple grew to become engaged as soon as once more with Western Carolina University.
He served on the college’s Foundation Board of Directors from 1998 till 2002,
then on the Board of Trustees from 2002 till 2011.
“After our retirement from the company world, we had been in a position to develop our involvement
financially and thru service. It grew to become very obvious throughout this timeframe that
there have been important wants – each academically and athletically,” he stated.
Through two earlier complete fundraising campaigns, WCU has addressed points
of educational high quality and pupil entry, he stated.
The “Creating Extraordinary Opportunities” initiative below former Chancellor John
W. Bardo targeted on elevating funds for endowed professorships, whereas the “Lead the
Way” marketing campaign throughout the tenure of former Chancellor David O. Belcher sought contributions
for endowed scholarships.
Launched shortly after the arrival of present Chancellor Kelli R. Brown in 2019, “The
Fill the Western Sky” marketing campaign is an effort to increase a minimal of $100 million in
philanthropic help for enhancements to the general pupil expertise – together with
lecturers, neighborhood and international engagement, and athletics.
“It has been extraordinarily gratifying to see the college develop in educational facilities
and pupil physique high quality and dimension over these previous 25 years. Also, we predict everybody
can see that our athletics facilities haven’t saved that very same tempo,” stated Kiser, a
member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and a lifetime member of the Zeta Xi Alumni Association.
“Through the help of our pupil physique and everyone’s help via the ‘Fill
the Western Sky’ marketing campaign, we have now the chance to give our coaches and student-athletes
the wanted facilities to proceed their pursuit of profitable Southern Conference championships,”
he stated. “Kay and I are pleased to be a small part of this effort.”
Donations made via the marketing campaign are being supplemented by monetary help from
WCU college students via the athletics price they pay. In the autumn of 2021, the Student
Government Association permitted a decision supporting a rise in that price, with
the {dollars} generated to go towards enchancment of Catamount athletics facilities.
For extra info or to make a contribution to the “Fill the Western Sky” marketing campaign,
go to WesternSky.wcu.edu, name 828-227-7124 or electronic mail [email protected].