William Brault | |
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Born | Two Rivers, Wisconsin, U.S. | February 27, 1927
Died | January 17, 2012 De Pere, Wisconsin, U.S. | (aged 84)
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Founder, Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame |
William Leon Brault (February 27, 1927 – January 17, 2012) was an American businessman known for founding the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and serving as the executive director of the Green Bay Area Visitor and Convention Bureau. A native of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Brault served in the United States Navy during World War II before attending St. Norbert College and the Milwaukee Business College. In the early 1960s, Brault helped found the Green Bay Area Visitor and Convention Bureau; he was later named the organization's executive director, a post he would hold until 1994. During his tenure with the Bureau, Brault won numerous awards for his advocacy and work supporting tourism in Green Bay. As a way to promote tourism, Brault approached Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi with an idea to create a hall of fame recognizing the past players, coaches and contributors to the Packers organization. Founded in 1966, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame became the first hall of fame to honor a single professional American football team. Brault served in leadership positions within the hall of fame organization and helped expand it over the next 38 years. He was elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 1995 in recognition of his contributions to the team.