MANHATTAN — The estate of Lt. Col. Albert E. Hylton III, Kansas City, Kansas, has made a gift of more than $629,000 to the military science department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University to establish the Albert E. Hylton Jr. Excellence Fund.

The fund will be used by the head of the department as needed to provide cadets developmental experiences above and beyond what the U.S. Army provides. The department is home to the university's Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion.

Hylton was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1920. He served in the Army beginning in December 1946, earning several decorations and citations including two Bronze Stars, a Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He retired from the Army in 1980 as a lieutenant colonel and went on to practice law, primarily in Kansas City, Missouri.

Hylton's father graduated from Kansas State University in 1916, studying military science. He served in World War I and then became a real estate developer in Manhattan. His father attributed his success to the education, military training and experience he received at the university. Hylton established the fund for military science to honor his father's experience at the university.

"I am of the utmost confidence that this generous gift will help to perpetuate excellence in the military officer pre-professional program at K-State and bestow true honor upon the Hylton family among generations of Army ROTC cadets to come," said Art DeGroat, director of military affairs at the university and friend of Hylton. "Lt. Col. Hylton's genuine interest as an external stakeholder in the work to rebuild the Wildcat Battalion was truly inspirational. He served as a beacon of light to guide me and my fellow cadre on the importance of our work in rebuilding the legacy of military science at K-State that was established as early as his father's time as a student at the turn of the 20th century."

"Lt. Col. Hylton's gift to the military science department will advance our prestigious program and allow us to provide enriching opportunities for our cadets," said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president. "By enhancing the student experience, this gift is helping to advance K-State toward our goal of being a Top 50 public research university by 2025. It also helps strengthen an already strong cooperative relationship between K-State and the military."

Philanthropic contributions to the university are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.