Bill and Cindy Keller find joy in supporting athletics, alumni and students
In most competitions, there’s a winner and a loser. But Bill and Cindy Keller believe that to succeed in business and life, it should be win-win.
The Kellers, who own and operate Stanion Wholesale Electric in Pratt, Kansas, have given generously for many years to K-State and to their home and business communities. Most recently, they invested in K-State Athletics, the Alumni Association and the College of Business Administration with gifts totaling $1.25 million.
“Cindy and I both get more joy and satisfaction out of being a donor to things we like to support than keeping that money in the bank,” Bill said. “Both of us were raised to give back and invest in the communities we live in.”
Born a Wildcat
Bill, from St. Francis, Kansas, was born into a K-State family. His father was the first in his family to go to college, coming to K-State to become a veterinarian. He also was a student athlete, competing on the wrestling team. Bill’s mother transferred to K-State from Emporia State and earned her degree in home economics. The couple eventually moved back to St. Francis, where Bill and his siblings grew up.
Bill and his brother carried on the family tradition of wrestling at K-State.
“Wrestling, attending football and basketball games and the social aspect of college are some of my fondest memories,” Bill said.
Bill earned his degree in political science in 1972, and Cindy earned hers from the University of Kansas in elementary education in 1970. They met in Lawrence while Bill attended law school.
After just a few years practicing law, Bill realized he wanted to make a change. He joined Cindy’s family company, Stanion, and discovered his passion for business.
Purple pride
The Kellers’ gift to K-State Athletics will support student-athlete scholarships and wellness initiatives. Their gift to the Alumni Association will invest in programs that unite Wildcats across the globe. And their gift to the College of Business will provide funds to the Center for Principled Business, which strives to develop future business leaders who will keep in mind prosperity for all stakeholders — including society — along with the bottom line.
These three areas are dear to the Kellers’ hearts. Bill’s connection to K-State sports began with family trips to football games in the 1950s. Ernie Barrett, a friend of Bill’s dad’s, would stay at their house when he was on trips to western Kansas in his early days as a fundraiser for K-State Athletics. In 2016, Bill joined the Alumni Association Board and served a four-year term. He has served on two K-State Athletics Advisory Councils and is a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Principled Business at the College of Business. And in May 2024, Bill gave the commencement address for the college.
“I talked about win-win relationships in life and in business,” Bill said. “I told the graduates I hope they have a win-win relationship with K-State, as it has been for me. I encouraged them to stay connected to K-State through the alumni association, business school or athletics, and to support the university financially so future students can have the kind of win-win experiences they had.”
Giving back and paying it forward
Bill and Cindy credit their parents with instilling a passion for philanthropy. Their parents were part of the Greatest Generation, living through the Great Depression, so they knew what it was like to live with less.
“My parents thought about how they’d been supported in various ways, so that was a motivation for them to continue that generosity into the future,” Bill said. “For them it meant giving back.”
Cindy’s parents lived the classic American success story, according to Bill. They launched their own company when Mr. Stanion was about 42 years old, after he had tried many other occupations. They started very small and grew into a large, successful business.
“They became charitable as they became successful, because they felt there were things that needed to be done,” Bill said. “They supported the communities in which we did business, especially the community they lived in. So they were looking to the future.
“You can look to your past and find reasons to donate, and you can look to the future to find reasons,” Bill said. “It takes private donations for so many things in this world to be able to function, and people need to understand that things just don’t happen in a vacuum.”
Give till it hurts
Bill realizes that not everyone is going to make the decision to donate to K-State or a cause close to their heart. But for those who do, he suggests giving until it hurts.
“If you’re feeling the inclination to give, then give more than your first impression. If you want to give $100, give $250, and so on,” he said. “Give until it hurts. You’ll always be glad that you did because it’s absolutely true that you will get back more than you give. You’ll find that you enjoyed it, and you’ll keep doing it. We did!”
And the Kellers plan to keep giving after they’re gone. On top of supporting K-State now, they’re putting K-State in their estate plans, ensuring their investment continues in perpetuity.
