College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Dr. Michael Hoban Branson
January 24, 1942 – August 29, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Michael Hoban Branson, emeritus associate professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Branson passed away on August 29, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 83.

 

Born on January 24, 1942, at St. Anne’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, Mike was the son of Francis and Frances (Hoban) Branson. He spent his formative years in the Chicago area before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from St. Procopius College in 1963, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Arizona State University in 1965, and a doctorate in industrial engineering from Arizona State University in 1969.

 

Mike began his academic career at the University of Rhode Island, serving in the Industrial Engineering Department from 1969 to 1977, where he earned tenure and the rank of associate professor. He later joined the Department of Community Health Science in the College of Human and Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University, achieving the rank of full professor in 1981. In 1982, Mike and his family relocated to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he worked as a systems planner for Conoco Oil Company. That same year, his wife, the late Dr. Donna Branson, joined the faculty of OSU. In 1985, Mike returned to academia, joining the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s School of Industrial Engineering and Management, where he served with distinction until his retirement in 2007.

 

Throughout his career Mike’s scholarly contributions were numerous. His most significant impact was in the advancement of healthcare systems in Oklahoma. Through his pioneering research in computer-based information systems, he enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare agencies at the local, regional and state levels. Among his many projects, he developed a computerized reporting system that successfully connected county health departments to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, streamlining information transfer and significantly improving reporting capabilities. His innovations were subsequently adopted by the Oklahoma Environmental Health and Finance agencies, as well as the state’s Women, Infants and Children Program, where his work improved program operations and services to families across Oklahoma.

 

In 1995, Mike assumed the role of program director for the OSU Health Care Administration Interdisciplinary Master of Science Program, a position he held until his retirement. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in preparing healthcare administrators to design, implement and analyze healthcare information systems, applying advanced methods in operations research, simulation and statistical analysis. Through his leadership and mentorship, Mike guided numerous graduate students, many of whom went on to have distinguished careers in healthcare administration throughout Oklahoma and beyond. On August 21, 1965, Mike and Donna married in Oak Park, Illinois. Their marriage spanned 57 years until her passing in 2023. Together, they raised three children: Michael Scott, Rene Kathleen and Kerry Nicole.

 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mike was a man of many interests. He enjoyed reading, music and following current events. A devoted sports enthusiast, he particularly cheered for Notre Dame, the OSU Cowboys and Creighton University Blue Jays. He was also known for his culinary talents, delighting family and friends with his cooking.

 

Mike’s colleagues, students and friends remember him as a man of deep commitment — to his family, his faith, his students and the betterment of healthcare in Oklahoma. As one former student shared, “Mike had an intense dedication to OSU, Oklahoma healthcare, his family, and faith. He was a great man and a fantastic teacher.”

 

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (William), his sister (Chrisine), his wife, and his son-in-law (Todd Williams). He is survived by his three children. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as a large extended family of more than 100 members, most of whom reside in Arizona. Mike cherished following their life journeys and celebrating their milestones.

 

Mike’s legacy endures through the countless students he mentored, the colleagues he inspired and the systems he helped build to strengthen healthcare in Oklahoma. He will be deeply missed.