‘Transformational gift’ prompts The Citadel to create new school on leadership

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A new gift from Mr. and Mrs. L. William Krause, ’63, will significantly enhance the couple’s long-standing legacy of promoting the education of principled leaders at The Citadel.

Gay and Bill Krause have recently committed to giving an additional $5 million to establish and name the Krause School of Leadership and Ethics, a news release stated. The new gift — when added to significant previous gifts made in 2012 and in 2003 designated to support, advance and endow the college’s leadership development curriculum — places the Krauses among the top three individual donors in the college’s history, the release stated.

The new school will unite the existing Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics and the college’s Department of Leadership Studies into a single entity, forming the college’s sixth major academic school.

“We believe that the new school of leadership is an essential cornerstone to The Citadel and its vision to lead in the education and development of principled leaders,” said Bill Krause in the release. “Gay and I are excited that we can provide the funding for General Walters and Provost Selden to establish the new Krause School of Leadership and Ethics as the pre-eminent school of leadership in America.”

Collaborating with three presidential administrations over several decades, the Krauses have provided the vision, guidance and resources to establish The Citadel as the college of choice for those seeking to serve as principled leaders prepared to meet the challenges facing the nation and the world today, the release stated.

“Bill and Gay Krause have been instrumental in The Citadel’s efforts to advance Leadership and Ethics education for more than 30 years,” said The Citadel President General Glenn M. Walters, USMC (Ret.), ’79, in the release. “Their support is not only in philanthropy, but also in leadership and wisdom. They are a driving force with The Citadel Foundation and a myriad of other campus organizations and projects. The Krauses’ impact on The Citadel cannot be overstated, and creating this new school is critical to advancing leadership and ethics education at our college.”

Gift to provide resources now and into the future

Fittingly, the Krause gift was formally documented after a surprise award presentation following the Oct. 12 Greater Issues address to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets by Krause’s close friend and mentee Claudius “Bud” Watts IV, ’83, the release stated. After the address, Krause was awarded the inaugural Presidential Leadership Award recognizing his lifelong commitment to advancing principled leadership at The Citadel. This prestigious new recognition is the highest honor that the college’s administration may award.

The Krauses’ generous gift will provide vital resources now and in the future, including ongoing operational support for the Krause School of Leadership and Ethics and an endowment to ensure its long-term growth. Part of the gift is an estate plan that will further enhance the renamed Krause School of Leadership and Ethics endowment.

Until it officially becomes part of the new Krause School of Leadership and Ethics, the Department of Leadership Studies will continue to equip all Citadel students with the knowledge and the tools to be principled leaders, the release stated. The Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics will also continue to coordinate, promote and enhance the development of curricular and co-curricular programs in leadership and ethics that support The Citadel’s vision to lead in the development of principled leaders.

A long-standing member and former chairman of The Citadel Foundation (TCF) Board of Directors, Krause served alongside William Sansom, ’64, as honorary chair of the Foundation for Leadership comprehensive campaign, which raised more than $250 million to support the college’s most vital strategic initiatives.