Donald Max Stewart

1934 - 2025

Donald Max Stewart

March 15, 1934 - October 24, 2025

Lawrence, Kansas - Donald Max Stewart died on October 24, 2025, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born to Charlcie Melinda (Fields) Stewart and Milo Franklin Stewart on March 15, 1934, in Talmage, Kansas. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1952, where he played football and excelled in basketball. He attended the University of Kansas for two years, transferring to Fort Hays State University to accept a basketball scholarship. He received his BS degree from Fort Hays in January 1958.

Don and Royalynn Louise Law were married in August 1958 at the First United Methodist Church in Hays, Kansas. They departed to Chicago where Don enrolled in graduate school at Northwestern University, and Royalynn taught elementary school in Park Ridge. In 1960 Don graduated from Northwestern with an MS degree in hospital administration. Don's graduate work required residency in a hospital, and he chose Methodist Hospital of Dallas, where he and Royalynn lived for three years. While in Dallas their son Craig Edward was born. In 1963 the family moved to Hays, where at age 29 Don became CEO of Hadley Regional Medical Center. He served at Hadley for 20 years. In 1964 their son Brian Conrad was born.

While at Hadley, Don received the Kansas Outstanding Young Man award in 1968, and he received an award from the Kansas Federation of Business and Professional Women for his efforts to advance women in the workplace.

In 1983 Don became President and Chief Operating Officer of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Don thrived on managing hospitals but had a vision of an independent philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans. This led him to become instrumental in the sale of Wesley Medical Center, the proceeds of which formed the Kansas Health Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Since its inception, the Kansas Health Foundation has made grants to health organizations in Kansas totaling more than $500 million to improve the health of all Kansans. Grants from the foundation will continue in perpetuity. Don continued his work at Wesley for several years, but his desire to address other health issues took him to the Kansas Health Foundation, where he became Senior Advisor. While researching a project, Don found that there was little information specific to Kansas, so the Kansas Health Institute was formed. The Institute is based in Topeka and is today considered one of the premier state-based health research and policy institutes in the country. Later, the Kansas Health Foundation formed the Kansas Leadership Center, which provides leadership programs throughout the state and beyond.

Don developed and oversaw a program to assist rural hospitals and realized those areas had a critical need for primary care professionals. At one time, the state had two programs that trained nurse practitioners, but one had closed and the other was faltering. The Foundation made a $1 million-plus grant to the University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita State University, and Fort Hays State University to establish nurse practitioner programs, and today there are many such programs in Kansas that are helping to address the state's primary medical care needs.

Don was an established leader in Kansas. He served as chair of the Kansas Blue Cross board and the Kansas Hospital Association. In 1994, he received the Charles S. Billings award from the Kansas Hospital Association, the association's highest honor. He served on the boards of the American Protestant Hospital Association, the Midwest Health Congress, and Health Frontiers, and he was a delegate to the American Hospital Association. Don was an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and the University of Minnesota.

Outside of healthcare, Don served on many community and nonprofit boards, as well as on the board of the First National Bank of Hays. He was appointed by George H.W. Bush to the Federal Home Loan Bank board. He was on the executive board of the Eisenhower Foundation. Don's most treasured award came when the Kansas Health Foundation established the Donald M. Stewart Scholarship at the University of Kansas. This scholarship is for students from Abilene and other Dickinson County communities to attend the university.

Don was a devoted husband and father. He, Royalynn and their sons enjoyed sailing, golf, and skiing together. He loved reading, particularly about World War II and Winston Churchill. Don and Royalynn spent many of their retired years in Chipita Park, Colorado and Rio Verde, Arizona. In his last years they lived in Lawrence, where they loved being back in Kansas and "on the hill."

Don spent his last year at Bridge Haven Memory Care. He lived in Eltern's House, and he received excellent and loving care from the wonderful Bridge Haven staff.

Don is survived by his loving wife Royalynn of Lawrence, Kansas, his son Brian (Christie) of Bluffton, South Carolina, his son Craig of Denver, Colorado, his daughter-in-law Maren Stewart of Denver, and his grandchildren Sam, Jack, and Emma. His boys and his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He was preceded in death by his parents Charlcie and Milo Stewart and his sister LaVonna Helvey.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Hays, or the Donald and Royalynn Stewart Scholarship at the Fort Hays State University Foundation, in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, Lawrence, Kansas.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.