Brooner, Charles "Orman"

BROONER, MOORE, FROUDH

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 04:49:12

'Mom and Dad' of the Graceland SIFE Team
When many people think of Graceland University they think of our national champion Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team. It is a highly successful, world-renowned program. During its evolution over 20+ years, team members, advisors alumni supporters, employers and the SIFE organization have all rallied around this hard-working team.

Quietly though, behind the scenes, another team champions SIFE at Graceland. They provide financial support, offer their steadfast ministry of presence at events, mobilized efforts to give SIFE new offices in the MSC, and freely share their love and affection for team members. They are Orman ’53 and Colleen Brooner, the ‘Mom and Dad’ of “our SIFE kids,” as Colleen refers to team members. Their support of all that is SIFE, of all that is Graceland, transcends traditional backing and encouragement. There is something ‘very special’ at work here.

At a Graceland reception before the national competition in Philadelphia in May, Orman and Colleen were presented with a SIFE memory book of a trip team members took to Thailand during Winter Term – the Brooners funded their travel expenses and chose not to go themselves so additional students could take the trip. SIFE helped a battered women’s shelter with business and marketing plans. After the memory book was presented at the reception, the hugs began. The trademark bear hugs with big, powerful Orman, the gentle, soft hugs from the lovely Colleen, often accompanied with a tear or two of joy. Maybe the hugs are windows into the hearts of this lovable couple. Maybe they are keys to understanding that something ‘very special’ about the Brooners.

Orman is a member of our Board of Trustees. His St. Joseph construction company built the new SIFE offices. He is always involved with one project or another on campus, most recently rebuilding and moving 15 miles the one-room schoolhouse donated to our Welcome Center complex by alumna Vicki McVicker ’50 Ross.

There are ‘Mom and Dad‘ of the Graceland SIFE Team too many gifts to mention that Orman and Colleen have offered to the Graceland family. It is that magical love of “our SIFE kids,” though, that defines their affection for this university.

Our SIFE team marches on and continues to provide team members with unique opportunities to learn the truths of ethics in business, the secrets of free enterprise and to share that knowledge with the world. They grow and mature and become our leaders of tomorrow. When you attend a SIFE competition, hear what the team has accomplished during the year, spend time with the team, experience one of the powerful presentations, you learn and grow with them. You get “SIFED,” hooked on SIFE, engaged with its purpose and goals. No two people are more “SIFED” than Orman and Colleen.

GU SIFE again made it to the final eight in Philly. They are one of only two teams in the U.S. to finish in the top eight in the last five years, according to SIFE Director Andy Simpson ’98. Our team marches on, hovering in the lofty heights of best-in-the-world SIFE. On the buses, in the airplanes, in the presentation halls, Orman and Colleen march on with them. “This team is one of the greatest pleasures of our lives,” says a beaming Orman, just before another enormous bear hug comes your way.

NOTE: Charles "Orman" Brooner was born in McClouth, Kansas, on June 29, 1934 to Charles and Inez (Moore) Brooner. He married Colleen Froudh on June 20, 1953, in Bedison, Missouri. He died May 25, 2013 at his St. Joseph, Missouri home at the age of 78 years.

Orman's obituary

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016