Glen BRAND

BRAND, MCGRATH, HUEBSCHER, GRASKOWIAK, RADER, DAVIDSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/16/2008 at 11:19:17

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa
December, 2008

CGHS wrestler, Olympic champion Glen Brand dies in Omaha

November 20, 2008 - Olympic champion wrestler Glen Brand, 85, of Omaha, Nebraska, died Saturday, November 15, 2008. Services were held Wednesday, November 19 in Omaha. Burial was in Omaha's Evergreen Memorial Park.

Glen Brand was born in Clarion on November 3, 1923, the son of Glen and Bessie McGrath Brand. He graduated from Clarion High School in 1942. He wrestled in high school, qualifying for the State tournament only once and he did not place. His wrestling career took off at Iowa State University where he place third in the NCAA as a heavyweight in 1946; second at 175 pounds in 1947 and first at 174 pounds in 1948. He participated in the 1948 Olympic games in London, wrestling at 174 pounds where he earned the golf medal. In 1978 he was named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1997, the Clarion-Goldfield Invitational Wrestling tournament was renamed the Glen Brand Invitational in his honor, just months before the 50th anniversary of his Olympic win.
Brand founded Brand Hydraulics in Omaha in 1956 and was still working at age 85.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Brand and is survived by his wife, Ruth Brand; one son-Greg Brand; step children: Debra Huebscher, Pamela Graskowiak, David Rader, Duane Rader, Bryan Rader; three grandchildren; sister-in-law Judy Davidson and many friends.

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Olympic gold medalist Glen Brand dies at 85
Craig Sesker - USA Wrestling November 17, 2008
It's been more than 60 years since Glen Brand won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling, but Brand never stopped giving back to the sport he loved.

Brand, who captured the 174-pound title at the 1948 Olympics in London, England, passed away on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. He was 85 years old.

Brand, who grew up in Clarion, Iowa, served in World War II for the U.S. Marine Corps before enrolling at Iowa State University. He won a NCAA title for Iowa State in 1948 and followed by winning the Olympics later that year.

Brand was honored in 1978 as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In his professional career as a hydraulics engineer, Brand built a highly successful company in Omaha. His company, Brand Hydraulics, was founded in 1956. It continues to thrive under the direction of his son, Greg Brand.

"Glen Brand was one of the true heroes in American wrestling history," said Mike Chapman, executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. "I just thought the world of Glen. He's done it all. He was highly successful in every phase of his life. He lived a very full life right up until the end."

Brand has been a regular during Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla.

"Glen Brand is an American legend because of what he achieved and what he gave to his country as a wrestler, soldier, engineer, and philanthropist," said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "On behalf of our Board of Governors and staff of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to the family members of this humble man who left us with so much to praise and honor him for."

Brand was a significant contributor to the Dan Gable International Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa. A hall of fame wing there is named in his honor.

Brand also was heavily involved with the wrestling program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Two tournaments run by UNO - the Kaufman-Brand Open and the Glen Brand Open - are named after him.

The Kaufman-Brand Open, the largest single-day college tournament in the country, will be held this Saturday. UNO coach Mike Denney said Brand will be honored and remembered on Saturday.

"Glen just had so much fire, and he had such a passion for wrestling," Denney said. "He loved wrestling and he gave a lot back to the sport. He's been so good to us over the years. He's helped us so much with both of our tournaments that are named after him. He always played in our golf tournament. He contributed a lot to our program. Every chance I could, I would have him talk to our team. He would tell the story about how he won the Olympics. Our guys loved hearing that story. It was very inspiring."

Brand was the first of five Iowa State University wrestlers to win an Olympic gold medal. The other four are Dan Gable, Ben Peterson, Kevin Jackson and Cael Sanderson.

"Glen was a real interesting fellow," Chapman said. "He really did care about the sport and felt very strongly that wrestling did prepare you for success in life. I think Glen was definitely proof of that."

An excerpt from the program for his final match at Iowa State sums up Brand's stature as a competitor: "There's more to Glen Brand than his wrestling. He's a true amateur, a gentleman who respects his opponent, but who brooks no interference with his right to rule on the mat."

http://wrestling.teamusa.org/news/article/7894
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Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska

BRAND-Glen, age 85. Preceded in death by wife, Mary Lou Brand. Survived by wife, Ruth Brand; son, Greg Brand; step-children, Debra Huebscher, Pamela Graskowiak, David Rader, Duane Rader, Bryan Rader; grandchildren, Adam and Jackie Graskowiak, Andrew Rader; sister-in-law, Judy Davidson; host of friends.

Funeral Service Wed. 10 a.m., 108th Street Chapel, Omaha. Interment Evergreen Memorial Park. Visitation Tues. 6-8 p.m. at Mortuary. Memorials to National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Stillwater, OK; Roeder Mortuary, 2727 North 108th St., Omaha, NE 68164, 402-496-9000