Braunlich Family and Friends

The William J. and Hildreth C. Braunlich Family Memorial Scholarship was created by family, friends, and colleagues to recognize the significant and dedicated community leadership of William J. Braunlich Jr. (1924-1992) and Hildreth Comstock Braunlich (1922-2003). Mr. and Mrs. Braunlich were ardent supporters and powerful advocates for both Monroe County Community College and St. Mary Catholic Central High School in Monroe. Thus, this scholarship reflects their community commitment and was designed to provide important financial assistance for SMCC students wishing to pursue higher education at Monroe County Community College.

Mr. Braunlich, a Monroe native and U.S. Army Captain in WWII and the Korean War, a 1942 graduate of Monroe High School, also received his doctorate of jurisprudence, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. He served as Monroe County Prosecutor during the mid-1950s before going into private practice. Mr. Braunlich was committed to the concept of “citizen lawyer” and assumed a variety of leadership roles in the United Way of Monroe, the Monroe Rotary Club, the Monroe Cancer Society, the Monroe City Charter Commission, the Mercy Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, the Hospital Merger Study Committee, the First National Bank and its successor, Security Bank of Monroe, Board of Directors, the Monroe Golf & Country Club, and numerous other organizations.

Mr. Braunlich was a staunch supporter of MCCC and SMCC, both personally and professionally, literally helping build both institutions from the ground up. Mr. Braunlich served on the original “Citizens’ Survey Committee of Monroe County Community College Possibilities” and later circulated petitions to place the creation of the community college on the ballot. Mr. Braunlich served as General Legal Counsel to MCCC from 1964-1992 and worked closely with President Ronald Campbell and the Board of Trustees. Further, Mr. Braunlich served as the first lay president of the Monroe Catholic Central Board of Directors and provided essential leadership at an important phase of facility renovation and expansion.

Hildreth Mary Comstock Braunlich, a graduate of St. Mary Academy and Marygrove College, began her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary School. Following her marriage to Captain Braunlich in 1946, Mrs. Braunlich was a devoted mother to their four children, Barbara, Marcia, William H., and John. Mrs. Braunlich was also a leader and participant in a variety of community organizations, including the Monroe Thrift Shop, the Sawyer House, St. Mary Church, Monroe Probate Court family outreach program, the Monroe County Historical Society, Monroe County Community College and The Foundation at Monroe County College. Following Mr. Braunlich’s death in 1992, Mrs. Braunlich established this scholarship with the support of her family, friends and MCCC President Gerald D.Welch. Mrs. Braunlich was also extremely supportive of the creation of The Foundation at Monroe County Community College in 1998 under the leadership of MCCC Trustee Michael R. Meyer and her son, William H. Braunlich, general counsel for MCCC.