James A. “Jim” Brunner graduated from Bexley in the class of 1941 and during World War II served in the U.S. Navy. Upon his return, he attended The Ohio State University where he received his B.A., B.Sc., M.B.A. and Ph.D.

From 1947 to 1951 he taught at O.S.U. and Otterbein College. He moved to The University of Toledo in 1951 where he served as chairman of the Marketing Dept. for 25 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1992.

A member of Beta Theta Pi, Jim was the first to sign the roll book at the 1991 grand ceremony of induction for the new UT chapter of Epislon Tau, of which he served as adviser. In 1997, the General Convention of Beta Theta Pi recognized Jim as the Adviser of the Year. In 2002 he received UT’s Alumni Adviser Award for his dedication to fraternal values and to furthering Greek life on campus.

His philanthropic interests include the Brunner Scholarship Fund, the Brunner Faculty Service Award in the College of Business Administration and the establishment of the Brunner Multimedia Center in Stranahan Hall.

In 2001 the university paid him high honor by creating the Brunner Society, established to help The University of Toledo College of Business Administration meet its educational mission and its role in the profession and the community at large.

Jim was the first chairman of the University’s Campus Beautification Committee and in 2003 the American Society of Landscape Architects designated the University as one of the USA’s most beautiful campuses, one of only 22 colleges and universities so honored. The University created and dedicated the Brunner Garden on campus to honor Jim’s beautification work.

Jim Brunner passed away on February 3, 2007 at the age of 83.
 

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