Lex R. Winans ’57

A lifelong resident of the Pittsburgh area, Lex died there July 7, 2025.

He came to Princeton from Wilkinsburg High School, where he was captain of the golf team. He majored in the Special Program in Latin American Civilization and took his meals at Tower Club, for which he played numerous intramural sports. He was on the freshman swimming team and continued his golfing activities, but not as a team member. He was a member of the Spanish Club and the Schools Committee. Lex roomed with Barry Caskey, Jim Herr, and Dave Vannatta senior year.

Lex served in the Army following graduation, attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Business Administration, and held many different jobs, such as selling encyclopedias, safety equipment, and life insurance. In 1963, he married Bonnie Lee Wyman, and they had two children, Lex and Molly. He settled into a job as vice president and sales manager for W.E. Zimmie, a specialty chemical business, saying that among our classmates, he was probably “the only guy in the mud removal business.” Eventually he went into the coal brokerage business and became president of Coal Hill Mining Co., selling to steel mills, utilities, and other companies, and retiring at 86 years old.

After divorcing Bonnie, in 1978 he married Karen Stone; that marriage also ended in divorce. His third wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Hamilton, brought four children, Bruce, Brian, Hilary, and D.H., into the marriage. Lex served on the Class of 1957 Caring Committee, for which we are grateful, and he spent time before and after retirement on golf, skiing, and world travels.

He is survived by Jackie, his two children, four stepchildren, and their families.