Emeritus appointed to state council

KALAMAZOO--Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed a National Football League referee and retired Western Michigan University faculty member to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports.

Ronald J. Winter, WMU associate professor emeritus of human performance and health education, will serve a two-year term that expires in 2014. Winter is among eight people appointed or re-appointed to the 15-member council, which is designed to increase physical activity and health improvements in Michigan.

Ronald J. Winter

A Kalamazoo resident, Winter came to WMU in 1969 as an instructor and director of campus recreational activities. He returned to the faculty full time in 1992 and retired in 2008 after more than 38 years of service to the University.

A former NCAA football and basketball official, Winter began serving as an NFL referee after working from 1995 to 1998 as a line judge. He has been a registered official with the Michigan High School Athletic Association for 42 years.

Winter earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University.