2.15.19

Honoring her father With $5 million gift, Jane McDonald hoped to inspire students

When she decided in 2010 to leave a gift in her estate plans for Wichita State, Jane McDonald expressed a desire to honor her late father through the donation, perhaps naming a scholarship for the longtime Cessna executive.

But when she learned in 2018 of WSU’s plans to build a new home for the W. Frank Barton School of Business, she saw an opportunity for an even grander tribute. Ms. McDonald, who died last year, committed $5 million to the project. In recognition of the gift, a 300-seat auditorium on the new building’s main level will be named for her father, Frank A. Boettger.

Mr. Boettger, treasurer of Cessna Aviation for many years until his retirement in the 1970s, was highly regarded for his business acumen and civic leadership.

“A colleague once called him the conscience of Cessna for his high standards and integrity,” said Bill Boettger, Frank’s son and Jane’s brother. “Jane thought it would be a great honor to have his name associated with a university that is preparing the business leaders of tomorrow.”

Neither Jane McDonald nor Frank Boettger attended Wichita State, but both had a great allegiance to it. As a child, Jane attended basketball games with her father, forging special memories. Mr. Boettger was an avid fan of WSU sports and believed that the university was an important community asset.

“Jane was very excited about commemorating her father in such a meaningful way,” said Elizabeth King, WSU Foundation president and CEO. “Her gift to the new building was tremendously important in moving toward completion of our fundraising goal, and we’re very grateful for it.”

The WSU Foundation is only about $50,000 shy of its fundraising goal of $30 million for the new facility, which has an estimated cost of $50 million. Along with a $5 million donation made anonymously, Ms. McDonald’s gift is the second-largest one made to the undertaking.

Born and raised in Wichita, Ms. McDonald lived in the Dallas area for the last 25 years of her life. She worked in data processing for much of her career, but moved to a position with the luxury jewelry boutique called Bachendorf’s in the latter years. After retiring, she spent much of her time on cruising vacations around the world. She died on Oct. 8, 2018, at the age of 75.