CHS selects recipients for Alumni Hall of Honor

Two former students of Columbus High School will be honored next week for their accomplishments during and after their time in school. Distinguished alumnus awards are given to honor former students of any high school in Columbus whose achievements, character and citizenship are said to serve as models to today’s youth.

The CHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor Committee recently announced the selection of William Frank Braden as one of the 2011 honorees. He will be formally inducted at CHS’ Academic Awards Banquet, slated for 6 p.m. Monday, May 23.

William Braden was born Oct. 27, 1941, the son of Raymond and Lena Braden, of Bernardo. William graduated from CHS as salutatorian in 1960 and then enrolled in Texas A&M University. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural journalism from Texas A&M University in 1964. This was followed by a master’s degree in educational administration in 1975. He went on to earn a doctorate in adult and extension education from Texas A&M, with a dissertation entitled "Small Farm Operators in Texas: Their Information Needs and Sources” in 1981.

In 1964 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served two years before going to work as an area communications specialist based in Lubbock for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, a part of the Texas A&M University System, from 1967 to 1971. He then transferred to the main campus of A&M, where he worked as assistant editor in the Department of Agricultural Communications. He served as a communications specialist with the Extension Service for 22 years, followed by a 12-year job as an agency director. He retired from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in August 2000.

Braden was active in Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national fraternity of Extension Service workers as well as the Texas Alpha Chapter of Alpha Zeta.

He currently does part-time work hosting international training groups as part of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M. He is active in the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He has held all offices in the Knights of Columbus, including Fourth Degree Msgr. Timothy J. Valenta Assembly, in which he is currently serving as treasurer. Braden is also active in the local chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, having held all offices and is now serving as treasurer. He is a member of the Texas Research Ramblers genealogy group and is involved in documenting cemeteries in Brazos county.

Braden is married to Barbara Jean Emmel, of Eagle Lake, for almost 42 years. His children are Shannon Huchingson, of College Station and Stephanie Braden, of Austin. He serves as a volunteer at the St. Vince de Paul Society Story in Bryan. His hobbies include gardening, golf and "spoiling” his granddaughter Emily.

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