Listen Here
By Victoria Hansen
hansenv@findlay.edu
In a UF Update sent out on July 16, Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics Brandi Laurita announced that three familiar buildings on the University of Findlay’s campus would be renamed to honor UF donors: The Center for Business and Student Life would become the Watterson Center, the Davis Street Building would be renamed the Katherine and Roger Fell Center, and Winebrenner Theological Seminary will become the Stewart Center.
“Naming opportunities are a wonderful part of philanthropy,” Vice President of University Advancement Kenneth McIntyre Jr. said in an email interview. “Typically, naming opportunities take place in two ways. One is honorary to highlight someone who has done fantastic things for UF…Another way is to recognize the generous financial support that a donor provides for construction or operations of a building/facility or operational support for the university.”
The Watterson Center, abbreviated in campus materials as WATT, is named after Billy (class of 1996) and Brenda Watterson, who run the Watterson Brands family of nine brands along with four non-profit organizations. Billy Watterson graduated from UF in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Hazardous Materials Management, which led to the creation of his first company, Watterson Restoration & Facility Solutions, in 2001.
The Watterson Center was originally planned as a new building to house the then-named College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (now the College of Business and Humanities), but these plans did not come to fruition.
The Davis Street Building was rechristened as the Katherine and Robert Fell Center on June 4, 2026, in honor of UF President Katherine Fell’s retirement. According to McIntyre, more than 50 donors donated more than $2.64 million to name the Davis Street Building after President Fell and her husband, Robert. The building’s new abbreviation is FELL.
Finally, Winebrenner Theological Seminary will be rededicated as the Stewart Center on Aug. 22; however, materials have already been updated.
“Jim (Stewart) worked for 32 years in sales and marketing in the automotive industry. His experience at the University was transformational, and he believes in investing in his alma mater and the good work we do,” said the UF Update email. According to McIntyre, the Stewarts are making a $5 million donation to UF.
The building was originally named after John Winebrenner, the founder of the Churches of God General Conference. The University of Findlay is associated with this denomination, and the building hosts Winebrenner Theological Seminary (WTS), a graduate school also affiliated with the denomination.
“Winebrenner Seminary has been appropriately engaged in various levels of conversation related to this transition,” said WTS President Brent Sleasman in an email interview. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the University of Findlay and are looking forward to a new season of collaboration!” WTS will continue to have its offices in the Stewart Center.
“Work at UF is largely dependent upon those with philanthropical hearts and minds,” McIntyre said. “We are thankful that they have shared their blessings with the University. They make it possible for our students to achieve their educational aspirations. Every gift – no matter the amount – shapes the future of UF and is deeply appreciated.”
