Hugh Branson

BRANSON, HUGH - age 77, widely known for his work with Tennessee Republican candidates and elected officials and in the local broadcast arena for more than a half century, died Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Tennessee Veterans Home as the result of brain cancer. A native of Washburn, TN, he was the son of the late Paul Branson and Minnie Beeler Branson. Branson received a degree in journalism from The University of Tennessee College of Communications. He was the announcer for the UT Pride of the Southland Marching Band and was also the half-time announcer at UT football games for several years. He and the legendary "Voice of the Vols" John Ward also did play-by-play of the Knoxville Smokies baseball games on the radio during the 1950's. When WSKT-TV, the predecessor of WTVK-TV, now WVLT-TV, signed on to broadcast in 1953, Branson's was the first voice heard on the air. For a time he was the announcer on Cas Walker's "Farm and Home Hour" which aired on various local outlets, and worked with Lowell Blanchard on the Mid-day Merry-Go-Round show. After service in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, Branson returned to Knoxville and became active in Republican party politics. Along with local attorney John Lockridge and the late Judge Ray Lee Jenkins, Branson worked to build the Knox County Young Republican Club in the early 1960's. When Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. ran for the U.S. Senate in 1964, Branson managed that campaign and Baker's subsequent campaigns. He worked in Washington as Bakers Chief of Staff for 16 years. He was also active in the campaigns of Gov. Winfield Dunn and Mayor Victor Ashe, among others, and managed the campaigns of Mayor Kyle Testerman. After leaving Baker's staff, Branson had a consulting business in Washington for a time, and then returned to Knoxville, where he continued his consulting business and hosted "The Branson Report", an interview program on the PBS affiliate WETP-TV. He remained active in Republican politics, and pursued a lifelong interest in jazz music. He was an active member of the Knoxville Jazz Society. Branson was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Needham Branson, and a brother, Paul Ernest Branson. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Ann Branson of Nashville, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Pam Needham. Graveside services will be 1:30 pm Friday May 29, 2009 at Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, Lyons View Pike, with the Rev. Matthew Dutton-Gillett of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth S. Needham, Kenneth Stokes Needham Jr., Jason Bailey Needham, John Lockridge, Paul Sherbakoff, Kevin Kampf, Mack Bailey, Ray Stone, Ron Hurkley, Dr. Rick Byrd, and Ann Thompson Widseth. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, 2518 Sherrod Rd., Knoxville, TN 37920. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Needham home, 2121 Cherokee Blvd. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com