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- William "Bill" Brault, 84, De Pere resident, entered heaven on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, to be with his beloved wife who passed away exactly six years ago, Jan. 17, 2006. He was a very loving and devoted family man; son, husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was born Feb. 27, 1927 in Two Rivers, Wis., to the late Arthur and Ruby (Collins) Brault. Bill attended St. Luke Grade School in Two Rivers and graduated from St. Francis Xavier Cathedral grade school in Green Bay. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1945. Following high school he began serving in the U.S. Navy starting at Great Lakes Naval Academy. He served in the Naval Air Transport in the South Pacific during World War II. Following his honorable discharge he continued his education at St. Norbert College and the Milwaukee Business College. On July 22, 1950, Bill married the love of his life, Carol Corbeill at St. Willebrords Catholic Church, where they were lifetime members.
Bill started his professional career working alongside his father at Brault's Cafe, later expanding their business to include the Turquoise Room and Brault's Catering. Bill envisioned the Packers and Green Bay as the tourist attraction it became. An abrupt three minute meeting with Vince Lombardi marked the beginning of Green Bay, as a tourism destination when he asked then General Manager Lombardi for permission to start a Hall of Fame for the Packers in 1966. The meeting ended with Lombardi telling Bill "that's fine with me, but keep your tourists away from my players," then patting him on the back and saying "And I'm holding you responsible, that a way to go, Bill." Bill never forgot the responsibility Lombardi demanded as he grew the Hall of Fame from an idea into an attraction that drew more visitors than the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Temporary displays grew into a permanent building that was dedicated in 1976, with Bill at the side of President Gerald Ford. In 1995, the Hall officially inducted Bill as its founder, recognizing his creative thinking and vision of the future that led to its existence. He continued his support of the Packers until his death.
Even in the beginning, the tourism industry recognized Bill's progressive thinking and ideas. He received the Governor's award for promotion of Wisconsin in Miami before Super Bowl I in 1968. In 1979, he became the founder of the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, receiving their lifetime achievement award in 1994, for his creativity, professionalism, promotion, honor and leadership in making Wisconsin the premier tourism destination in the Midwest. His insights into tourism promotion reached to the halls of Madison and Washington DC, as he was appointed to various state and national Tourism Task Forces and Congressional Caucus where he fought for tourism funding. He stood with Governor Thompson when a tourism bill was signed and President Reagan when a national tourism bill was enacted.
Bill was a visionary whose ideas spawned countless projects that furthered tourism and made Green Bay a top destination. He was the first president of the Green Bay Area Visitor and Convention Bureau in 1969, and held that position for 25 years. In 1983, he established PMI, a promotion company which started Dutchman's Landing riverfront amusement park, managed the stadium concessions and booked shows at the arena. Bill was intricately involved in the development, fundraising and design of Shopko Hall, the Resch Center and the National Railroad Museum.
Bill was a decade's long member of numerous local, state and national professional organizations related to his career in the tourism industry including the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and the International Association of Auditorium Managers and received numerous service awards for his invaluable contributions to the profession of tourism and building management. He was also a great supporter of Catholic Education, serving in the Parent's Club of St. Norbert College, where he was inducted into the Golden Knights Society. Bill was a proud member of American Legion Post #11.
Bill is survived by his four children, Kathy Brault, Wrightstown; Pat and Kathy Brault, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mary and Pat Gilson, West De Pere; Sue and Bill Van Oss, Duluth, Minn.; six grandchildren, Andrea Brault, Chicago; Erin Brault, Milwaukee; Emily Brault, Gloucester Point, Va.; Zachary and Rachel Gilson, West De Pere; and Luisa Van Oss, Duluth; Bill's sister, Lois and Ken Wall, Krakow; his brother-in-law, Dick (Sylvia) Corbeill, Green Bay.
Friends may call at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St., from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Willebrord Catholic Church in the Fr. Ken Center until time of Mass. American Legion Post 11 memorial service 6:45 p.m. Thursday, parish wake service 7 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Friday at church with the Rev. Andrew Cribben, O.Praem officiating. Entombment at the Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. On-line condolences may be sent to Bill's family at www.prokowall.com. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy a memorial fund has been established in Bill's name.
Bill's family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the many caregivers in Bill's life. They would also like to say a special thank you to Bill's "brother" Rudy Brault, for his lifelong closeness and camaraderie over the years.
Published in Green Bay Press-Gazette from January 18 to January 20, 2012
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1927 - 2012 (84 years)
