Dr. Robert A. Kyle, ’48, made his first gift to the University of North Dakota in April 1962 – almost 18 months before President  John F. Kennedy spoke at UND. 

Back then, Kyle was less than a decade into what would become a 70-year career at the Mayo Clinic, where he specialized in a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma.

Fast forward 62 years and Dr. Kyle remains a strong supporter of UND, having given each year since 1962. His first gifts started small – $10 a year for the remainder of the decade before keeping with inflation trends – and 40+ years later he and his wife of 70 years, Charlene, established a scholarship endowment.

“I felt that it was appropriate to, quote, ‘pay back,’” recalled Dr. Kyle. “I felt this education at UND was very helpful to me. It got me into medical school and obviously without medical school, you don’t become a doctor.”

Dr. Kyle’s 62 years of giving back to UND makes him one of the longest-living benefactors in the University’s history.