For Release August 10
Board of Regents Statement on the Death of Regent O.R. "Bob" Brancel
SPEARFISH-In a statement this morning the Board of Regents offered its reaction to the news of Regent O.R. "Bob" Brancel's death. Brancel died in Pierre on Friday night.
At the Board's regular meeting on the campus of Black Hills State University Board of Regents President Karl Wegner stated, "On behalf of the Board of Regents and the entire university system, I want to express my sadness at the news of Regent Brancel's passing last night. For all of us who new Bob and had the pleasure of working with him, this is an especially difficult loss. The mantle of public service is not always an easy one to assume, but Bob did it with intellect, common sense, warmth, and true leadership. His contribution to this Board and to the education of South Dakotans are both a proud legacy and an inspiration to all of us. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with Judy and his entire family at this difficult time."
A native of Pierre, Brancel was appointed to the Regents in March 1991. He was recently retired as Executive Vice President of BankWest in Pierre, and served as Chairman of the Board of Farmers State Bank in Faith. Brancel earned a B.S. in electronics engineering from South Dakota State University, an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota, and had done graduate work in management science at the University of Colorado. His term on the Board of Regents was set to expire in March 1997.