Chris Mosson’s journey to Winona State University started when a friend from high school was visiting the university and suggested Chris try to meet with then-baseball coach, Gary Grob.
He said the small campus setting, Coach Grob’s encouragement, and the beauty of Winona’s bluffs and the Mississippi River made it clear that Winona State University would be his new home.
Even though he was not officially recruited, Chris said that he will never forget the thrill and uncertainty of showing up for the first day of Fall Ball in 1982, saying that “WSU had a great winning tradition, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
He came to Winona State University to study accounting and would go on to play for the baseball team throughout his time as a student until he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1986.
As a student-athlete, Chris kept busy between classes, practices, and games. His experience provided an avenue to leverage his passion so he could excel both in the classroom and on the field.
During his time at Winona State University, Chris was chosen as a team captain and was selected as an All-American, which he credits for helping him get his first post-graduate job.
Chris said, “the quality of my education and the characteristics I developed through WSU baseball have all played a critical role in my professional and personal accomplishments.”
He explained that the mentors he had through college and his career helped pave the way for his success in roles at RJR Nabisco, Morton International, and Constellation Brands.
Coach Gary Grob made a lasting impression on Chris as a student, and he referenced his impact on his personal and professional success.
Chris said, “Coach Grob’s passion for winning and the care and love he showed his players in a fair, but tough, fashion is something I have never forgotten.”
He explained how the focus was not just on putting the best team on the field, but also on growing and developing young men to prepare them for life after baseball.
The impact Coach Grob had on Chris was never forgotten, and it inspired Chris and his wife, Sue, to begin their philanthropic giving to Winona State University, choosing at first to support The Marilyn and Gary Grob Scholarship fund to continue Coach Grob’s legacy.
Wanting to further pay forward the support he received as a student, Chris and Sue established The Chris and Sue Mosson Baseball Scholarship, focused on supporting student-athletes and helping the next generation of Warriors.
Chris’s philosophy in life is to continue to learn, work hard, and be himself. His dedication as a baseball player, student, and career professional provides a model for current student-athletes, and his impact will be felt by many Warriors to come.