I found the link to Mr. Braun’s obituary, click on his name in this sentence to see it…He was very involved in the Oklahoma City community.
This is an excerpt from that obituary as it relates to TG&Y
“One of his proudest achievements was his career with T.G.&Y. He started in 1939 as a bookkeeper and retired in 1979 as Chairman and CEO of this retail chain that had grown to nearly 1000 stores nationwide.”
Mr. Braun retired before many who are reading this began working for TG&Y but most of us know his name and reputation.
The following text was copied from the above link, in case it goes away at a later date.
Edward J. Braun was born May 4, 1919 in Oklahoma City, the youngest of 5 children. He passed away August 28, 2010. He was the son of Sylvester & Dorothea Braun. On the day he was born, his father immediately carried him to St Joseph’s Cathedral to be baptized. His faith remained strong throughout his 91 years. Edward attended St Joseph’s in OKC for grade school and high school. After graduating, with his earnings from 2 paper routes, he enrolled in business school to become a bookkeeper. In 1941, Edward was drafted into the Army as a Private and over the course of WWII achieved the rank of Captain. On leave in Sept. of 1942, Edward married Judy McGovern, and together they raised 4 daughters. One of his proudest achievements was his career with T.G.&Y. He started in 1939 as a bookkeeper and retired in 1979 as Chairman and CEO of this retail chain that had grown to nearly 1000 stores nationwide. Edward was involved heavily in both church and community activities. He and Judy were founding members of St. Patrick Catholic Church; at his death, they were members of St. Eugene Catholic Church. Edward served the OKC community with his involvement in United Way, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army. He served as a Director of the State Fair of Oklahoma Board, Commissioner of the OKC Housing Authority, Director of Liberty Bank, Director of Touchstone School, Organizing member of the Baptist Medical Center; he was also a Board member of the OCU Business Advisory Board, the Better Business Bureau Board, and the OKC Chamber of Commerce Board. He leaves behind his wife, Judy; daughters: Susan Roberts and husband Mike, Bev Kanaly and husband Paul, Louise Vandaveer, Janie Saltzman and husband David; grandchildren: Laura Davidoff, Kelly Roberts and wife Mika, Ashley Roberts Hackethal and husband Bill, Mark Kanaly and wife Cal, Travis Kanaly and wife Angie, Matt Vandaveer, Ross Vandaveer, Ben Vandaveer and wife Julie, Amanda Saltzman Debel and husband Loren, Lindsey Saltzman Boesl and husband Ben; great-grandchildren: Julia Davidoff, Conner and Peyton Kanaly, Camryn Kanaly and Spencer Debel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Vincent dePaul Society (2400 W. Hefner Road, OKC 73120), or the Salvation Army (311 S.W. 5th St., OKC 73109). An Evening Prayer Service will be held at 7pm, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, and Mass of Christian Burial at 11am, Wednesday, both at St. Eugene Catholic Church (2400 W. Hefner Rd.). Interment will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.