Merle Converse has enjoyed a lot of opportunities in his life. He was elected high school homecoming king, he married Helen, who was homecoming queen and his high school sweetheart, and he has enjoyed a successful career in a field he’s passionate about.
He has many fond memories of K-State, including encouraging advice from M.A. Durland, then dean of the College of Engineering. His parents and several siblings graduated from K-State and he grew up attending Engineering Open House on campus. He recalls the pride of becoming a commissioned officer through Air Force ROTC and earning his degree in electrical engineering from K-State in 1958.
“My job in the Air Force was to study electronic systems and select the ones the Air Force could use,” Converse said. “The combination of all my training at K-State was really ideal.”
Kansas State University helped prepare him, and now he creates opportunities for others with the Merle and Helen Converse Electrical and Computer Engineering Scholarship. Now a resident of Helotes, Texas, Converse has worked 53 years at Southwest Research Institute, where he holds 10 patents as an engineering technical advisor and electronic equipment designer.
“I have a great feeling about Kansas State University,” he said. “I want to help other students attend and have the same great experiences I had.”
How you can invest in Kansas State University
Converse created his scholarship with a charitable rollover from his IRA. To learn more about this tax-friendly way to make a difference at Kansas State University, visit www.found.ksu.edu/IRA or e-mail engineering@found.ksu.edu.