Brenton H. Rupple, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., passed away on Oct. 17.
Rupple, 86, died in his sleep at his River Hills home.
Rupple grew up in Waukesha and attended Carroll College. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
He became president of Baird in 1973 and served in that post until 1979. He maintained an office at the firm until age 81 and celebrated his 86th birthday at the Baird annual meeting earlier this year.
Rupple also was active in the community, including serving as chairman of the Executive Committee for the University of Wisconsin Foundation and president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
Paul Purcell, current Baird chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, “Brent was a spectacular human being and served as a tremendous role model for me and many other associates at Baird, as well as the countless others he touched. He personified Baird’s strong cultural values that are so important to how we do business, including our steadfast commitment to our clients, to unwavering integrity and to giving back to the community. In fact, one of Baird’s highest honors for associates, the Brenton H. Rupple Citizenship Award, was created in Brent’s honor to recognize exemplary and extraordinary community involvement.”
MGIC Investment Corporation has named Bruce L. Koepfgen to its board of directors. Kopepfgen is a private investor, he previously served on the board of executive committee of Allianz Global Investors. He also worked previously at Salomon Brothers Inc., where he held senior management positions in fixed income sales.
"We are very pleased MGIC will have the benefit of Bruce’s deep experience garnered through his long career in financial services. We look forward to the insight and perspective that Bruce will bring to our Board," said Curt Culver, MGIC Investment’s chairman and CEO.
