Winters received his bachelor's degree from Murray State University, his master's degree from Indiana University and his doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado. He served two tours as an officer with the United States Army and an additional ten years in the United States Army Reserves.
He brings experience from the construction industry, business, secondary education and a lengthy career in higher education, starting with 23 years at Murray State University – the last 11 years as Dean of the College of Industry and Technology. During his tenure at Murray State, he designed and implemented many new academic programs and secured funding for the new Industry and Technology Building. He left Murray State in 1988 to become the President of Campbellsville University. He served in that capacity for 11 years before his retirement in 1999. During his service there, he moved the institution from only a bachelor's degree granting institution, to a master's degree level institution. He implemented a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, built several new facilities and renovated most existing buildings, while increasing enrollment by approximately 260 percent.
While in Campbellsville, Winters served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and played a key role in the economic stability of the community and region. While in Murray, he has served on numerous county economic development committees throughout west Kentucky, and has influenced industry decisions to relocate to the Western Kentucky area.
Winters was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Murray State University and received the Alumni Distinction Award from the University of Northern Colorado. He has served on the council of Presidents for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Council of Presidents for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), President of the Mid South Conference (Athletics), President of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU), was appointed a Kentucky Colonel by three different Kentucky Governors, as well as having served on numerous boards and committees at the local, state, and national levels.
Winters is an active member of the First Baptist church of Murray and has served in many leadership roles including, Deacon. He recently served as the Executive Director of a 3.2 million dollar capital campaign in his church for new and renovated facilities. Since his retirement, he has helped the Murray-Calloway County Hospital as a volunteer in establishing the Community Healthcare Foundation, a fund-raising arm of the hospital. Winters served as Chairman of its Board of Directors and Chair of its Development Council.
Winters has served on the Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education. This 15 member board coordinates change and improvement in Kentucky’s postsecondary education system as directed by the 1997 Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act.
In 2004, Winters was elected as State Senator representing the 1st Senatorial District (seven counties) in Western Kentucky. Immediately upon his election, Winters was selected to chair the Senate Education Committee. He continues in that role.
Documenting his national recognition, Winters currently serves as a Commissioner with the Education Commission of the States (ECS), Board member of the Southern Educational Regional Board (SREB), and Education Committee member for several other national and regional organizations.