Hamline University on Thursday, May 7, 2026, named its basketball court after a former player whose commitment to the institution continues to this day.
With speeches and a champagne toast, university leaders, trustees, coaches, student-athletes and other well-wishers celebrated the dedication of the Win Folkers ’57 Court in Hutton Arena.
“It is not every day that we are able to dedicate a space in a historic facility for the Hamline community,” said Hamline University President Mayme Hostetter. “So this is an awesome day to be together.”
Folkers’ ties to Hamline and Hamline athletics run long and deep. Playing for legendary coach Joe Hutton Sr., Folkers was an All-Conference forward on Hamline's 1957 MIAC championship men's basketball team and was named honorable mention All-American. He also played tennis and was actively involved across campus.
“He truly embodied our model of graduating winners,” said Athletic Director Alex Focke. “He learned. He competed. He served. He connected and he led. What makes Win so special is that his commitment to Hamline did not end at graduation. It only grew.”
Folkers majored in political science and economics at Hamline and moved on to earn a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Minnesota in 1964. He had a long career in city planning, real estate development and urban revitalization.
Folkers served as a Hamline trustee from 1996 to 2022, when he was elected a life trustee. In 2022, Hamline awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Players from Hamline’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and volleyball team spoke about Folkers’ influence on their experience as Piper student-athletes.
“The walls of this gym hold years of hard work, discipline and pride,” said Raoul Vaidya, a junior representing the men’s basketball team. “Every practice, every game, every moment has added to the legacy that continues to push forward. Today, that legacy is tied to the name, Winston Folkers. That represents commitment, excellence and a deep connection to him.”
In addition to playing on the court, the student-athletes use the nearby Winston Folkers '57 Alumni Room and Team Rooms, which were created by friends in his honor and unveiled in 2023. There, the teams hold meetings, film sessions, leadership development and team-building activities.
“This is a wonderful facility. I always enjoyed playing here,” Folkers said. “It has a wonderful future, just like Hamline itself has a wonderful future…I wish to do my part.”