Charles D. Peer Endowed Entrepreneurship Scholarship

An entrepreneur and visionary, Charles Peer grew up in Flint, Mich., and graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. It was his employment with the heating and air division of the Coleman Company that brought him to Wichita, Kan. Mr. Peer also worked for Beech Aircraft and designed the first Freon air conditioning system for the King Air. His ability to develop creative solutions to problems helped him design the air conditioning system for the first Lear Jet. After the sale of Learjet and during a downturn in the aviation industry, like many of his contemporaries, Mr. Peer was laid off. With a wife and three small children to support, he was determined to go into business for himself. Successful, Mr. Peer’s businesses came to include Great Plains Ventures, Great Plains Industries, Aerospace Systems and Components and PowderTech LLC.

Mr. Peer attributed his prosperity to Wichita’s pro-business, entrepreneurial environment and rich resources, including Wichita State University. He died in 2008. Created in his memory, the Charles D. Peer Endowed Entrepreneurship was established in 2009.