Madison Heights High School
1965 Class Reunion

Robert L. Branigan & wife, Connie
   
   

On September 18, 2004, Bob wrote...

R.L. & Constance Branigan

Robert L. Branigan,
Worthy Grand Patron
Indiana Grand Chapter
Order of the Eastern Star

I was born in New Castle, Indiana on February 4^th, 1947, and grew up in Anderson, Indiana, where my parents, Fred and Francis Branigan, still reside.  My younger brother, Dan, also makes Anderson his home.

A baby-boomer and a child of the fifties, I grew up with Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, and Sky King. And although fighting it, I finally had to submit to growing up (which is still highly debated from time to time) and graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1965.  After attending Ball State University for one year, I enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a command and control specialist and air borne radio operator for the next four years. I returned to Ball State after my discharge and completed both my Bachelor of Science Degree and Master's Degree in Speech and Communication.  A member of Ball State's Speech and Debate Team, I was able to travel extensively to compete in debate and forensic matches across the country and return as National Champions in 1973.  I am also a member of Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha, National Speech Academic Honorary Fraternity. I also attended the University of Maine and the United States Air Force Air University.

I am currently the head of the communications department at East Central High School in St. Leon, Indiana.  I have been teaching for 31 years.  I have served as President of the Sunman-Dearborn Educators' Association for the past five years and am bargaining chair and spokesman.  I am a professional debate judge and parliamentarian.    I am also employed by Indiana-Purdue University, (Southeastern Indiana Campus at Versailles) where I teach public speaking courses.  In addition, I have been a radio broadcaster for sixteen years with WSCH Radio and do play-by-play of football and basketball games.

My wife, Connie, Past Deputy, District Five, and I reside in Milan, famous for the 1954 upset of Muncie Central and the movie Hoosiers. Connie teaches senior English at East Central and is secretary of our teachers' association.   I currently serve as a Town Councilman and have been a reserve police officer for fifteen years. My son, Sean, lives in Cloverdale, with his wife Jara.  Sean is a graduate of Vincennes University and is a maintenance technician at US Airways, Indianapolis Int'l Airport and Jara holds degrees from Vincennes and the University of Indianapolis and is an elementary teacher. On February 12^th of this year, Connie and I became grandparents when Aubree Jordyn came into our lives.

I have always been a service-oriented person and am involved in many activities.  Some of these are Board of Directors, Rivertown Players (community theatre); Lions Club Board of Directors; Veterans of Foreign War (life member); Forty & Eight; and Ripley County Repeater Association (ham radio club).  I hold a technician's class license, and my call is N9HEH.  I love to talk to people all over the world!

I am Past Master of Versailles Lodge #7 and Past Patron of Versailles Chapter #333, O.E.S.  I am also a Scottish Rite Mason, Indianapolis Valley; Past President of the Southeastern Scottish Rite Club, a member of the Murat Shrine; Board of Directors, Southeastern Indiana Shrine Club; and a York Rite Mason.  And in June of 1994 was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Brereton C. Jones.

My interests are amateur radio, shooting, flying, public speaking, music, computers and other gadgets