Bill & Brother William Koutsky Music Scholarship

The Bill and Brother William Koutsky Music Scholarship was created to encourage and support a student with a Music Major. This scholarship will alternate between students participating in the WSU Band, WSU Jazz, or WSU Choir. Students must be enrolled full-time and maintain a 3.0 GPA or greater and have a declared music major.

Criteria

1. Each recipient must have a 3.0. g.p.a.
2. Each recipient must be a declared and accepted as a Music Major, the scholarship will alternate between students participating in WSU Band, WSU Jazz and WSU Choir.
3. Each recipient must be enrolled full-time at WSU.

Biography/Motivation

Brother William Koutsky was born in Winona on April 18, 1920 to Alois and Josephine Koutsky. He spent his boyhood years in Winona, after eight years in St. Josephs parochial school (now part of the Cathedral parish) he was well enough trained by the Sisters of St. Francis to be accepted as a frosh at Cotter High School Winona MN. He enjoyed every school activity except athletics. He covered major roles in most of the stage plays, wrote for the school paper and yearbook, he was known for his talent as he decorated for dances. William and Leo Brom both enjoyed the time they spent performing live radio plays on KWNO. After graduation he announced his intention to enter the Christian Brothers novitiate in Glencoe, Missouri.

Brother William was animated, versatile, students thoroughly enjoyed his classes and dullness was virtually unknown in his classes. From the outset he turned his hand to dramatics, he was innovative where none had till that time existed and demonstrating a first-rate talent, his sets were colorful, the staging was excellent and the performances had to be top-notch he embodied many innovative ideas in education. He taught and shared his wisdom at various Christian Brother schools from 1942-1971.

Brother Raymond Long decided to become a Christian Brother after he met William-William was the reason I became a Christian Brother, if anyone could be the man he was and still have fun doing what he is doing his example was enough testimony for me to join.

In the spring of 1971 he was elected provincial of the new Winona Province during a very difficult time. He stepped in as healer and reconciler; with his gentle tolerant manner he helped many Christian Brothers with conservative and progressive ideas

Brother William became weary of administration; he decided to devote his remaining years to the retreat ministry, becoming director of Dunrovin, the retreat house near Stillwater. He devoted himself to contemplative prayer. The prayerful, apostolic man could not help but make a profound impression on the young people who converged on Dunrovin for retreats. Kids warmed up to him, he was, their grandfather figure.

Brother William suffered a severe heart attack in 1979; his work became less active, still making a genuine contribution to community and students who came for retreats. He demonstrated his great interest in the overseas missions, especially the Brothers mission in Nicaragua.

Besides his interest in the theatre, he had a great love of the outdoors, his delight in fishing, swimming, hiking, his nurturing of plants and flowers are legendary. He never was so a happy as when he relaxed with his friends on a fishing trip in the north woods and enjoying Gods wilderness. He surprised his guest with a delight and proficiency in cooking.

He devotedly befriended and tended to the needs of the elderly. Brother William was always ready to help a struggling young teacher. He was a man of charity, courage, dedication and was generally good natured with all Gods creatures.

Death came suddenly and quietly in May 1981. Brother William Koutskys love of life is sadly missed by all his faithful family, the Christian Brothers and his many friends.