Charter member of SEMO booster club dies

~ CharlES Brune played a prominent role in Southeast athletics for more than 60 years.

Charles Brune was the patriarch of what is regarded as the first family of Southeast Missouri State football, and his involvement in Southeast athletics spanned more than 60 years.

"He did so much for the university," former longtime Southeast sports information director Ron Hines said.

Brune, 88, passed away Friday at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

"He was something of a fixture in Southeast athletics, and he was just a nice guy who everybody liked," said Hines, who recently retired after 29 years at Southeast. "He will be missed."

Brune, a lifelong Cape Girardeau resident, played football at Southeast in 1940 and 1941 under legendary coach Abe Stuber. He had two sons, Greg and Lance, and three grandsons, Brent, Brian and Bobby, who also played football at Southeast.

"You look in the Southeast football media guide and several of his sons and grandsons are still listed high on the records lists," Hines said.

Brune was a charter member and former president of the Southeast Athletic Booster Club. He joined several Cape Girardeau business leaders to establish the booster club in 1953 and served as booster club president from 1976 through 1982.

"Charlie was one of the first people I met when I was hired at Southeast," Hines said. "Marvin Rosengarten [former Southeast athletic director] took me to a booster club meeting and Charlie was the president at the time.

"I had a good relationship with him and I saw all three of his grandsons play."

Hines said Brune remained heavily involved with the booster club after his days as president.

"One thing that really stands out to me, until the last few years when he was in a nursing home, he had attended every booster club kickoff barbecue," Hines said. "He really loved Southeast."

In 2006, Brune was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions as a lifetime booster and his efforts in raising support for the Southeast athletic programs.

"He's the only person in the hall of fame who's not there solely for his playing or coaching, but more as an overall tremendous contributor to Southeast athletics," Hines said.

Two Brunes remain heavily involved in Southeast athletics. Greg is the university's director of athletic development, while Greg's son Bobby serves as coordinator of athletic marketing and promotions.

Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.