The Western Michigan Department of Intercollegiate Athletics mourns the loss of WMU football alum Willard A. (Bill) Brown. 

Brown excelled in football under head coach John Gill for four seasons in the early 1950's before graduating with a degree in business in 1953. He served two years in the United States Air Force after leaving Western Michigan and then joined Arthur Rubloff & Co., beginning his life-long venture into real estate. 

Brown spent 40 years at Rubloff, helping grow the company and was eventually named president and CEO in 1980. 

Brown was always a staunch supporter of his alma mater and provided a generous donation for a new football center in 1998. The now named Bill Brown Football Alumni Center houses the offices for the WMU coaching staff, weight room, locker rooms and all the amenities needed for a successful football program. He has also made generous donations to the WMU men's basketball and baseball programs. 

"Bronco Nation has lost one of its finest," said WMU Director of Athletics, Dan Bartholomae. "We all will remember Bill Brown as a proud alum whose legacy began at Waldo Stadium and continued on in both his career, his dedicated family life, and his philanthropic support as the namesake of our football operations facility.  Most importantly, Bill was a genuine friend who loved his family, loved the Broncos and was always among the first to extend newcomers a warm welcome to the Bronco family.  We will miss his quick wit and passionate support." 

His dedication to WMU is not just with athletics, he served on the WMU Foundation Board of Directors, and was WMU's 1992 Volunteer of the Year. Brown has made generous donations top The Haworth College of Business and The Presidents Fund over the years. 

Brown is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret, his children Suzanne, Stacy and Peter, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.