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President Branam on Campus: Visitation followed by Life Celebration
April 21, 2012
Thanks to the graciousness of the Branam family, Rose-Hulman
hosted an open visitation in the Hatfield Hall Alumni Center on
Monday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Branam's immediate family,
some from as far as Georgia, were all present to share
this moment with the Rose-Hulman community.
Lines of people anxious to pay respects went from Alumni
Hall, through the Alumni Office, and out the North door
of Hatfield Hall for the entire four hours, and many were still
waiting when the visitation ended. Funeral services for
friends and family were held immediately after visitation at
Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home in Terre Haute with burial in
Rosedale Cemetery. See below for the full
obituary.
Later in the week, an on-campus "Celebration of a 'Great' Life"
will be held. On Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m. the Rose-Hulman
community will take the opportunity to celebrate President
Branam's life and accomplishments. The event will be held in
the Sports & Recreation Center (SRC).
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial
contributions be made to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for
the Matt Branam Scholarship Fund.
****
Obituary for Matt Branam
Matt Branam, 57, of Terre Haute died Friday morning, April 20,
2012 in Union Hospital. He was the 14th President
of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Matt was born July 2,
1954 in Terre Haute to Everett Branam and Winoa Overpeck
Branam.
Survivors include his three children, Brooke Branam of
Alexandria, VA, Clint Branam of Washington, D.C., Travis Branam and
his wife, Julie, of Terre Haute; his father, Everett Branam
of Terre Haute; two sisters, Laura Branam of Atlanta, GA and
Kim McDonald and her husband, Lon, of Terre Haute; a
grandmother, Grace Branam of Terre Haute; and several aunts,
uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death
by his mother.
A native of Terre Haute, Matt grew up in the children's home his
parents operated, which is now the Rose-Hulman Pi Kappa Alpha
house. Matt graduated from Terre Haute North Vigo High School
and attended Indiana State University and Taylor University before
enrolling at Rose-Hulman, where he earned a bachelor's degree in
civil engineering in 1979. Before becoming Rose-Hulman's
president, he worked for the United Parcel Service (UPS) for 24
years, starting as a package sorter and driver and working his way
to Vice President of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. After
UPS he served as the first Chief Operating Officer of the American
Red Cross at the request of its former president, Elizabeth
Dole. While there he was instrumental in providing ongoing
efficiency and effectiveness of network of 1,300 Chapters: 32,000
employees and 1.3 million volunteers. He was a seasoned
leader, experienced in providing vision, strategy, operations and
financial management for companies such as the National Academy of
Public Administration, the United States Postal Service, Watershed
Associates, Inc. and TRED, LLC.
Known for his leadership qualities and ability to relate to
faculty and students, he was on a mission to propel Rose-Hulman to
international status as a college of excellence in engineering,
science, and math. As President, his accomplishments included
launching a strategic planning process known as "The 'Great'
Debate" and sustaining Rose-Hulman's number one rank among
specialized undergraduate engineering colleges as rated by U.S.
News & World Report. Matt was also involved in several
campus improvements including the creation of the Student
Innovation Center, the construction of a LEED-certified residence
hall and the construction of the William Alfred Cook Laboratory for
Bioscience Research. Matt served on the Board of Trustees for
the National Hospice Foundation and Board of Directors of the
Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Terre
Haute Economic Development Corporation, Central Indiana Corporate
Partnership and Union Health System. He also served on the
President's Council of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic
Conference. Matt's hobbies included sailing, motorcycle
riding, golfing and driving fast.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 23, 2012, from 9AM to 1PM
at the Hatfield Alumni Center on Rose-Hulman's campus. A
funeral service for family and friends will be conducted at 2PM at
Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th
St. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for the Rose-Hulman
community, friends, and the public on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at
1PM at the Sports and Recreation Center on Rose-Hulman's
campus.
The family of Matt Branam kindly requests that memorial
contributions may be made to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology,
5500 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47803.