Longest serving president of Westmont college David K. Winter passed away at the age of 84 on August 15. A memorial service on his behalf will take place on Saturday.
Born on September 15, 1930, he was known for his dedication to the cause of liberal arts and faith.
Winter was also the cofounder of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and served as president of the interdenominational Christian liberal arts college in Montecito, California, from 1976-2001, and as an interim president in 2006-07.
From an unknown small rural college in California, Westmont become a nationally renowned school, ranking among the 100 best liberal colleges in the country under his 25-year leadership.
"Westmont continues to benefit from Dave's contribution during his long and distinguished service," President Gayle D. Beebe told Christianity Today. "The college and our local community are fundamentally different and better because of his vision and the work he accomplished."
Recipient of 2013 Foundation Fighting Blindness' Visionary Award, Winter led the college by giving special focus on the improvement of quality of infrastructure and facilities on campus, staff and student services, outreach programs, on and off-campus study opportunities.
During his term as president, Westmont also became the beneficiary of $75 million donation, one of the largest ever awarded to a liberal arts college in America.
Having worked in US Navy for four years, he graduated with a Bachelor's and Master's degree from UCLA and went on to pursue PhD in anthropology from Michigan State University. In his early career, he also taught at Wheaton College in Illinois, Calvin College of Michigan, before securing his tenure as Professor at MSU.
Later, he became academic vice president and executive vice president at Whitworth College in Washington, before becoming president at Westmont in 1976.
In the aftermath of catastrophic Sycamore Fires of 1977, he led about 500 students in helping rehabilitate displaced residents.
Winter was chosen as one of the 50 college presidents by the John Templeton Foundation in 1999, even as the Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse called him one of their Twelve Men of Distinction.
Bob Andringa, Former CCCU president, said in a tribute to his retirement from Westmont in 2001, "When David Winter speaks in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, everyone listens!.. His refreshing candor and godly wisdom have guided individuals and organizations beyond count."
