Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-04-01
WAS A STRONG EXECUTIVE
He Found Institution Weak But
Left IL Strong Flourish
ing School.

Rev. August r. Bruske, ID. d., LII.
d., for twenty-one years president of
Alma College, and widely known
through the state in educational and
religious circles, died at his home in
Ypsilanti, Saturday, after only a few
days illness of pneumonia. Few of
his many Alma friends were aware of
his illness so news of his death came
came as a distinct shock to the com
munity, in which much of the life
work Of DR.. Bruske had been done.
Rev. Bruske came to Alma as presi-
dent of the college in 1891, succeed
ing George +. Hunting, who had been
the president of the institution since
inception, four years previous. Dr.
Bruske found Alma College, a weak,
struggling institution, the youngest of
the states sectarian colleges, struggl-
ing to grow and assume the position,
which its location, and its hackers felt
that its was entitled TO secure.
Believing sincerely in the future of
the institution, well qualified by pre-
vious experience and by education for
the position, DR.. Bruske was in posi-
tion to accomplish much good for the
small Presbyterian college, and during
the twenty-one years that he was the
executive head of the institution he
was constantly talking and preaching
Alma college, interesting hundreds Of
people in the small, but growing in
stitution.
When money was needed for the
advancement of the college, he Sc
cured it, When new buildings were
badly needed, he bended his efforts in
that direction with success. He gaher-
ed around him strong faculty, such
as is needed by any growing school,
and gradually Alma College began to
take a place in the front ranks of
the Michigan sectarian colleges.
In May Of 1912, DR.. August +. Brus-
Ike gave up his work as the executive
head Of Alma College, being succeeded
by DR.. Thomas G. Biaisdell of the NJ.
A. c., who is now dean of men at Penn
State College.
The work that he did during his
twenty-one of association with the col
lege here, has been highly successful,
and Alma College has debt of graft
tude to Or. Bruske that can never be
paid. lie found the college small,
weak, struggling. He left it growing
rapidly, among the strongest in the
state, and one that, while not rich by
any means, was in fair financial cir
cumstances.
DR.. Bruske had been almost life
long resident of Michigan. He came
to Michigan in early childhood, when
his parents settled near Wayne. The
Civil war found him enrolled in the
Union army, in which he served during
all of that grim struggle, in the Twen-
ty-fourth Michigan regiment
He attended Adrian College gradu-
atng from that institution. He then
studied at Drew Theological Semin-
ary and was ordained as a minister.
For a short time he was pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church at Char
lotte, and was then called to the pas
torate of the First Presbyterian
Church of Saginaw. For twelve
years he was pastor of that church.
and in 1891 was called to the presi-
dency of Alma College.
Following his work at Alma Col
lege, which closed in June of 1912, he
filled a pastorate at Holland for a |
short time, and then moved to Ypsi- |
lanti, where he has since made his
home.
DR.. Bruske is survived by his wife,
one daughter Mrs. James Davidson,
Of Ypsilanti. and one son, Paul Hale
Detroit newspaper man and
publicity agent
The funeral services were held |