Wilt Chamberlain leaves $650,000 for KU scholarships, athletics

The legacy of the legendary Wilt Chamberlain will continue at the University through a $650,000 gift from his estate.

The gift to the Kansas University Endowment Association from Chamberlain, '59, who died in 1999, established four endowed funds in his name for scholarships, KU men's and women's athletics, and a Special Olympics clinic.

"An exceptional athlete and alumnus, Wilt Chamberlain astounded basketball fans at KU and across the country," said KU Endowment President Dale Seuferling, j'78. "We are proud to accept this gift honoring his name and generosity."

Of the gift, $100,000 established the Wilt Chamberlain Opportunity Scholarship Fund. The need-based scholarship will be awarded primarily to first-generation students with social or economic backgrounds that present challenges to pursuing a college education.

For athletics, $300,000 created the Wilt Chamberlain Men's Basketball Scholarship. Interest earned on the fund will support a scholarship for one KU men's basketball student-athlete. Another $150,000 established the Wilt Chamberlain KU Basketball Clinic for Special Olympics Fund to support an existing annual basketball clinic for Special Olympians conducted by the KU Athletics Department. Chamberlain's gift also includes $100,000 for the Wilt Chamberlain Women's Basketball/Volleyball Scholarship Fund. The scholarship, one of the largest endowed for women's athletics at KU, will be awarded in alternate years to a basketball or volleyball player for her senior year.

"Wilt Chamberlain chose the University of Kansas over 250 other colleges and universities in 1955 and launched one of the most storied careers in basketball during his three years at KU," said Lew Perkins, KU director of athletics. "A phenomenal athlete in basketball as well as track, Chamberlain obviously was also a champion supporter of disadvantaged students and athletes of all kinds."

Seymour Goldberg, Chamberlain's longtime friend, agent and attorney, is executor of Chamberlain's estate. He worked with Barbara Lewis, one of Chamberlain's six sisters, to give funds from the estate to charities according to Chamberlain's guidelines and interests.

"Wilt was a very generous person, but he didn't like to draw attention to his philanthropy," Goldberg said. "He wanted his estate to support kids, education, the homeless and youth-oriented organizations, among others. The Special Olympics would have been something he would have supported, and he believed in giving for women's athletics because he knew, going back to the 1960s, that they had few supporters."

Lewis said her brother was extremely happy at KU.

"He was absolutely blessed, and he wanted to give that back," Lewis said. "Kansas was a good home to him, and he loved the open spaces and people. And you know, he never ever missed KU basketball games on TV."

Chamberlain's KU basketball career highlights included scoring a college career high of 52 points and grabbing 31 rebounds in 1956, during his varsity debut against Northwestern University. As a Jayhawk, he averaged 29.9 points and 18.9 rebounds per game and led KU to two Big Seven championships.

Chamberlain left KU in 1958 to begin his professional career with the Harlem Globetrotters. He did not return to his alma mater until 1998, when his jersey was retired in Allen Fieldhouse.

"That day in 1998 was one of the highlights of his life," Goldberg said. "He thought he might get a plaque or something, a token he'd received a hundred times before, but instead all these people were so happy to see him. He was so moved by the reaction of the crowd."

Lewis, who was unable to attend the event with her brother, agreed.

"There was the constant ovation; it brought tears to his eyes and I could tell it affected him when he spoke about it," she said. "He hadn't been in Allen Fieldhouse until then. He was so excited and overwhelmed by the reaction of the media and the officials and everyone who was there."

Chamberlain's gift counts toward KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in KU history. KU Endowment is conducting KU First on behalf of KU through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, non-profit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.

More on Wilt's career at KU
Wonders of Wilt: quotes from those who knew him