Henry and Carolyn Broesche
When Brighton Homes founder Henry Broesche and his wife Carolyn were invited to join the Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, they found it hard to imagine having the time to serve. Now they find it hard to imagine not serving.
Henry Broesche doesn’t mind telling you that being on the UT System Chancellor’s Council has been “an incredibly eye-opening experience.”
When Henry (B.B.A., ’62) and his wife Carolyn (B.A., Art, ’58) graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, there were two universities in the entire system; today, there are nine, along with six health institutions.
“Obviously, the UT System has grown and changed considerably, but we had no idea just how huge it had become,” says Henry, “or how big a job the chancellor has, being in charge of it all. It pretty much puts you in awe.”
The Broesches have been members of the Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee since 2006. Nominated by friends who were already on the council, they were at first reluctant to accept, due to their considerable family and community commitments in Houston. Now, they’re among the council’s most enthusiastic members.
“Being involved has made us acutely aware of what’s there, how the UT System touches so many lives and what an integral part of living in this state it truly is,” says Carolyn. “We are realizing how lucky we are in Texas to have the UT System, and how fortunate we are to have this opportunity to be involved with it.”
For Henry, one of the highlights of council membership was the appearance at the 2012 Chancellor’s Council Annual Meeting and Symposium of Admiral William McRaven (B.S., Journalism, ’77), who led the Joint Special Operations Command that destroyed Osama Bin Laden.
“I was impressed by all the speakers, not only Admiral McRaven,” says Henry. “It reminded me that so many exceptional, accomplished people have gone to colleges in the UT System.”
For Carolyn, it’s been rewarding to meet Chancellor Cigarroa, whom she calls “an incredible person who makes all he does seem as easy as falling off a log.” She also relishes the chance to gather together regularly with other council members with whom she and Henry share interests.
Being a member of the council has also afforded Henry opportunities to discuss with the chancellor issues about which he feels strongly, from encouraging political diversity among faculty to relying on Texas talent to lead institutions in the system.
“We really appreciate the invitation to join,” he says, “and we’re just so glad we can participate.”