Being that we are Ball State University, one can expect to find many examples of the Ball brothers influence all around campus.
The main examples are buildings named after the siblings. Edmund Ball has the Ball Communications Building and the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center. Elliot Hall is named after Frank Elliot Ball. The Ball brothers' only sister has a building named after her as well: Lucina Hall.
Branching out from the immediate family, the wives of the Ball brothers have their claim on campus building names — Woodworth is named after Frances Woodworth Ball, wife of George Ball, and the names for the halls within Woodworth come from the four brothers' wives' maiden names — Brady, Wood, Crosley and Rogers.
Aside from buildings on campus, the Beneficence statue, affectionately known as Benny, was commissioned to honor the Ball family.
Many students visit these places, but there is another name that holds significant meaning on the campus — Bracken.
Many students know the Bracken name in reference to Alexander M. Bracken Library. I'm sure most of you have been there, whether on a college tour, for a meeting at the "Naked Lady" or spending hours at a table deep within the library during Finals Week. Alexander Bracken was president of Ball State's Board of Trustees for 22 years. There is also Bracken House, where President Jo Ann Gora resides. This was Frank Bracken's childhood home.
As of now, we have two campus buildings with the Bracken name. Recently, a third building was added to the list. The Administration Building will now be officially known as the Frank A. Bracken Administration Building. Frank Bracken is the son of Alexander and the grandson of Frank C. Ball.
I understand having multiple buildings named after the Ball brothers because we are Ball State. But having three buildings with the Bracken name? I wasn't too sure about that.
At first, I did not like the idea of another Bracken building. I thought, "We're Ball State, not Bracken State." But looking closer, it's easy to see why the Bracken name is being used for yet another building on campus.
Frank Bracken has served on the Board of Trustees for 30 years, seven of those years as president. He has been a member of the University Foundation Board for 25 years and has helped to raise more than $300 million for Ball State.
He has been on boards throughout Muncie, such as the Ball Memorial Hospital Board. He was even George H.W. Bush's Undersecretary of the Interior for four years. Frank Bracken has served with conservation and historical groups as well. That's not even all he has done for the university, not even close. Those are just highlights of his contributions to Ball State and the Muncie community.
It's no wonder that the oldest building on campus is being renamed.
I went into this thinking that we were going to become "Bracken" State University and wondering what the point was of having another building named Bracken. The truth is, the Bracken family has contributed enormous time and money to the Ball State and Muncie communities. What better way to pay tribute than name the oldest building on campus after a family and a person who has done so much? I can't think of another way.
The Ball and Bracken families have touched everyone on campus through the money and time they have contributed to this university. Those contributions should be celebrated.
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