ATHENS, Ga. - Paul C. Broun, 88, who spent nearly half his life serving in the Georgia Senate and supporting education, died Monday morning from heart failure and respiratory complications. Mr. Broun had been hospitalized for the past month.
In his 38-year career in the state Senate, Mr. Broun helped guide state appropriations toward an unprecedented period of growth at the University of Georgia, and his influence was felt in nearly every major building project at UGA.
A successful businessman, Mr. Broun operated a Studebaker-Packard dealership in the 1940s and 1950s and started a Firestone tire store in Athens.
That business experience prompted him to run for state office, according to his son, Paul C. Broun Jr.
"He ran in 1962 because he thought he could take good business principles to the state Senate," said Dr. Broun, an Athens physician.
After winning the 1962 election, Mr. Broun served 19 consecutive terms as senator and devoted much of his efforts toward the state's educational needs, especially UGA and Athens Technical College.
"He understood the future of the state was about education," Dr. Broun said. "Everything he did was striving to improve education for the state of Georgia."
Former state representative Louise McBee, who considered Mr. Broun a "great public servant," a friend and a mentor, agreed he was a champion of education.
"He made his contribution to much of the growth and the university's ability to deal with that growth over these many years," Ms. McBee said, adding that he also was a strong force in getting Georgia to approve a lottery for funding education.
Arrangements are being handled by Bernstein Funeral Home of Athens.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
