KU alumnus makes $500,000 gift for debate team — largest gift in team's history

Pittaway and his wife, Jeannine, live in Rochester, Mich., and Naples, Fla. He is Senior Managing Director of Castle Harlan, Inc., a New York City private equity investment firm where he has worked since its founding in 1987.

His pride in KU’s debate team is evident. “The team has won five national championships, as many as the men’s basketball program,” said Pittaway. “In addition, KU ranks in the top five universities in debate nationally. The others are all private universities — including Harvard, Northwestern, Dartmouth and Emory. KU is absolutely by leaps and bounds the best public university in debate.”

Danny Anderson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, expressed appreciation for the gift. “This professorship fund will provide essential resources to sustain a legacy of stellar debate coaches, including Scott Harris and Donn Parson, who have been crucial to the program’s success,” said Anderson.

A Summerfield Scholar, Pittaway arrived at KU in the fall of 1969, planning to participate in debate throughout college. But, he decided to take a heavier course load so that he could graduate in three years. Knowing he would need more time to study, he left the debate team. After earning a bachelor’s degree from KU in History, Political Science and American Studies, he went to Harvard University, where he earned a Juris Doctorate and an MBA.

Pittaway said his gift reflects inspiration from his former debate coaches — Donn Parson, a professor of communication studies at KU, and the late Gerald Ashen, a KU alumnus who coached debate at Shawnee Mission South High School.

Experience in debate benefits students throughout their careers, said Pittaway. “Debate helps you be generally prepared in a public speaking environment. And it helps in negotiations because you understand what arguments the other side will be making, so you can be prepared to co-opt or refute them to come to a successful agreement. This has been invaluable in my career.”