Heritage Hall News

Braver Receives 2015 HHAA Distinguished Alumni Award

 
Recently, the Heritage Hall Alumni Association (HHAA) named Rob Braver from the Class of 1977 as the recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award.  The Distinguished Alumni Award honors an alumnus/alumna who has exemplified the Heritage Hall motto – to Learn, to Lead, to Serve – by his or her personal accomplishments, professional achievements and/or humanitarian service.

In presenting the award, HHAA board member Brian Bogert ’95 said of Braver, “Not only were Rob Braver’s accomplishments as a student outstanding, becoming our school’s first-ever state champion in any sport, but his contributions continued as an alumnus, patron and member of the board of trustees. His unwavering passion for Heritage Hall can be seen throughout campus from the many improvements and new facility projects he spearheaded, including the Betsy Braver Family Tennis Center and the McClendon Athletic Complex. His contributions reach far beyond Heritage Hall, however. He has been a founder, contributor and board member of numerous community organizations with a focus on helping out the underdog, the kid that might not have never been given a shot and those who have been dealt a tough hand in life.”

Upon accepting the award, Braver began his remarks with “words that inspire” – to learn, to lead, to serve. When it comes to living by the school motto, Braver said he had some good coaching.

“In 1974, my Charger mother, Betsy, led a campaign to build the original tennis courts. My classmate and life friend from 7th grade on, Aubrey McClendon, gave and gave and challenged the School to grow and be better. I learned on the job as a trustee by watching a ‘young and handsome headmaster’ – so described by Aubrey – Guy Bramble provide leadership year after year. I also watched and learned from great board presidents such as Ted Strickland, Tony Boghetich, Ed Wells and Joe Lewallen. I have seen classmates from the 70’s become trustees, coaches and patrons – including Shannon Self ’77, Bill Mathis ’75, Bob Portman ’76, Steve Foerster ’77, Rusty Caston ’77, Jeff Oakley ’77, Crosby Norville Harris ’77, Coach Mark Adams ’78, and Coach Craig Brown ’78 – give of their time and resources. Why? Because they care … Because they believe with passion that Charger Pride is for real,” Braver said.

Braver knows it’s real, too, once joking that he bleeds blue and gold. “I’ve been a Charger for as long as I can remember, some 43 years and counting. Being a Charger changed my life. I was sitting in Mrs. Bradshaw’s ninth grade English class … I leaned over to my best Charger buddy, Rusty Caston, and asked, ‘Who is that new girl?’” Braver recalled. Her name was Karen Shawver ’77. The pair ended up dating through high school and getting married.

Years later, the Bravers were back on campus as patrons – Jessica ’01 and Erika ’03. In what Braver described as a true “Charger love story,” Jessica went on to marry Heritage Hall alumnus Daniel Reineke  ’01 and Erika is engaged to Nathan Mattison ’00. Among those sitting in the audience watching Braver’s acceptance speech was his goddaughter, Bailey Blanton, a member of the class of 2015.

Braver ended his speech with what Headmaster Guy Bramble dubbed the highlight of the evening: “This Charger thing of ours runs deep and forever!” As Bramble mused, those are “powerful words from one of Heritage Hall’s finest, a Charger to the bone.”
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