Kalamazoo College Athletics has received a $100,000 gift from Gene ’76 and Joann Bissell to support the relaunching of men’s and women’s track and field at the College.
The couple are making the gift in memory of Joann Bissell’s father, George Stewart, an avid cross country and track and field fan.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Bissells for helping us turn our dream to restart track and field into a reality,” said Director of Athletics Jamie Zorbo ’00. “This program will enhance our ability to recruit student-athletes to K while providing exciting new opportunities for our current student-athletes.”
Gene Bissell was a political science major at K who went on to earn his MBA from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. He retired as president and CEO of AmeriGas Propane, Inc. and has served in many capacities on public company and nonprofit boards. Bissell has been a lifelong supporter of Kalamazoo College, both philanthropically and as a Trustee of the College, having served as a member of the Board from 2003–19. He currently serves as a member of the leadership committee for the Brighter Light Campaign, which will conclude this fall.
“We are thrilled that K is bringing back track and field,” said Bissell. “We also appreciate the opportunity to honor Joann’s father with a contribution to a sport he loved.”
Bissell’s father-in-law, George Stewart, developed his love for track and field as a quarter-miler in high school and as a devotee of the heroes of this sport as they competed in New York, Penn Relays and elsewhere. He passed this love along to many of his children and grandchildren, who have competed and coached at the scholastic, collegiate and open level, and who are grateful for this opportunity to continue his legacy of support to Kalamazoo College students.
Track and field will begin in the 2025–26 academic year and will be led by current cross country coach Kyle Morrison. The program will bring K’s total number of varsity athletics teams to 22.