The School of Business chose Rod Brady, U graduate and former president of Weber State University, as the 17th inductee to its Hall of Fame.
Brady is president and CEO of Deseret Management Corporation, an affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was honored at the Jewish Community Center Friday. However, the business school chose him for more than just his career accomplishments.
“We choose people not for what they are, but who they are,” said Jack Brittain, business school dean. “We choose people who have given back to the community.”
Brady, who received his undergraduate degree at the U and his doctorate at Harvard University, was surprised to become part of the Hall of Fame.
“I don’t know why I was chosen. There are so many worthy people in this community that need to be honored, I much prefer to honor others than myself. I’m really quite embarrassed,” he said. “But if I can help the U by lending my name to its efforts, I am happy to do that as well as provide time and resources to help fulfill its mission.”
Brady has learned many lessons in his life, but each has one over-riding theme.
“The one thing I want to emphasize is that each day should be better than the last in some respect. If today is not better than yesterday, then all that has happened is time has passed and no progress has been made,” he said.
Brady hopes students can apply that lesson to both their time at the U and later in their lives.
“One of the wonderful things about one’s college years is that one can take that new knowledge and use it for a stepping stone the next day,” he said.
Brady has applied this lesson to his life and his prolific career.
Brady served as a member of the sub-cabinet of President Richard Nixon in Washington, D.C., from 1970 to 1972. Brady also served as Weber State president from 1978 to 1985.
About 10 years ago, Brady, along with his wife and three sons, set up a family charitable foundation. One of the causes the foundation focuses on is excellence in teaching at the institutions the Brady family attended. In 1992, the foundation set up the Brady Faculty Superior Teaching Award to recognize 13 faculty members from the 1950s who taught him during his time at the U.
Other members of the Hall of Fame include Spencer Eccles, Jon Huntsman and Ken Garff.