News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Editorials

April 25, 2012

EDITORIAL: Matt Branam: 1954-2012

Community loses man of great vision and energy

TERRE HAUTE — The sudden death of 57-year-old Matt Branam on Friday morning continues to leave an air of sadness hanging over the community. As a hometown boy who rose to prominence as a successful business executive in the public and private sectors before returning to his alma mater to serve as president of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Branam’s story was uniquely local. His voice on behalf of Terre Haute and the college he led was as crisp and credible as any that have existed here in decades. To be in his presence was to know that Branam was an accomplished and ambitious man. There was nothing ambiguous about the manner in which he viewed or approached his role as a leader both in the community and at Rose-Hulman. His vision for both was clear and provocative. He wanted and demanded the best. It was clear that Rose-Hulman, already known and respected as among the best engineering schools in the nation, was enjoying renewed sense of mission and vigor under Branam’s leadership. Although he had been at the helm for only a short time, the Rose community felt his presence. He raised the energy level and had the college pursuing even greater excellence than it had previously achieved. Branam was a Terre Haute native, having grown up in the community and graduated with North Vigo High School’s first graduating class in 1972. He attended Indiana State University, and ultimately earned a degree at Rose-Hulman. He then set out on a business career that took him into a prominent position with United Parcel Service, and later as head of the American Red Cross. He came to back to Rose to serve as interim president while a national search was conducted to replace Gerald Jakubowski. But many, including college trustees, were so impressed with how he was handling the position that they asked him to stay as permanent president. It was, apparently, a job he embraced and grew to love. He was back in his hometown and held one of the community’s most important and prestigious professional positions. His is a wonderful story that ended much too soon. We join the community in offering condolences to Branam’s family and to the men and women who make up Rose-Hulman’s administration, faculty, staff and student body. The community shares their loss.

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