William C. Bramble

William C. Bramble earned a B.S. in Forestry at Penn State in 1929 and a master's and Ph.D. at Yale. He is professor emeritus and retired head of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University (1958-73).

Prior to his tenure at Purdue, Bramble was affiliated with the School of Forest Resources from 1937 to 1958, first as a research professor and then as director (1955-58). He pioneered studies of Virginia pine ecology, coals spoils vegetation, Christmas tree production, and most notably right-of-way vegetation management and ecology as affected by herbicides. He helped design Ferguson Building in 1937 and served as an officer of the Forestry Alumni Association in 1946.

Bramble is a Fellow and Golden Member in the Society of American Foresters. His other awards include a Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Electric Association in 1988 for his ecological research and the Wildlife Conservation Award from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, also in 1988.

As a captain in the U.S. Army Air Force in Africa and Mediterranean Theatre (1942-45), he received seven battle stars and two Presidential Citations. He has been active in his church, the Elks, and Rotary International.

Bramble and his high standards have been a role model for his students and colleagues.