EDWARD K. BRATTON

EDWARD K. BRATTON

Edward K. Bratton was born on April 26, 1923 and lived his life in Indiana County until he passed away on January 13, 2013.

Bratton’s career in the grocery business began at Steiner's Market in 1950. In 1984, he took ownership of the Indiana Giant Eagle. In addition to his ownership of the local Giant Eagle, he was co-owner of stores in Altoona, Ebensburg, and Bedford. He was also the founder of Giant Realty.

He was known in the community for his commitment to many organizations, especially those that serve youth, including the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indiana County (now Big Hearts, Little Hands), and the YMCA.

He was also a supporter of the Chevy Chase Community Center, Indiana County Community Action Program, Pathways Project, Visiting Nurse Association, Alice Paul House, Luther Ford Charity Golf Classic benefiting the unemployed of Indiana County, Indiana Group Homes, and the Meals on Wheels program.

He was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, for which he served as chairman of the Stewardship Committee, institutional representative for the Boy Scouts, and was a member of the Christian Education Committee, the Diaconate, and the Session.

It has been said that Bratton had a heart, “As big as the KCAC.” He was very humble and loved his community and church.

Bratton was honored with several prestigious awards for his service including the Male Civic Leader of the Year award in 2002 for a lifetime of service to the community and the 2001 William Penn Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Penn’s Woods Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Chestnut Ridge District. In recognition of this honor, the Penn’s Woods Council established a Camp Seph Mack summer camp scholarship in Bratton’s name.

In 2000, he was named the GOP Man of the Year at the annual Indiana County Republican Men’s Club banquet for his lifetime contributions to the organization. He was a founding member of the club and was its first president.

He also received the American Cancer Society Excalibur Award in 2002 and 2004, which recognizes community leaders and donors for exceptional generosity to the American Cancer Society. The annual Grocers Fight Cancer event at Giant Eagle raised nearly $500,000 for cancer research and treatment.

The Red Cross honored Bratton in 2003 with the Exceptional Humanitarian Service Award in recognition of his more than forty years of service to the organization.

Bratton was also recognized by the United Way of Indiana County with membership in its Tocqueville Society, offered to those who contribute at least $10,000 annually to the United Way.

He was honored by IUP in 2004 with induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame and the annual Bell Ringer Award.
In November 2009, Bratton made a $1-million commitment for construction of the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. In recognition, the Council of Trustees designated the athletic suite in the Kovalchick Complex as the Edward K. and Joan R. Bratton Athletic Suite.



Bratton also provided funding for the Edward Bratton-George Hathaway Endowed Scholarship for athletics and was a supporter of the IUP Crimson Commons, a project that recognized student-athletes.


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