Although born in Texas nearly 79 years ago, the Branom family homesteaded in Bonners Ferry and Dunc, one of six children, received his education and at times rode a horse to school, graduating in 1927. An outstanding athlete, he received a scholarship to Gonzaga, and the only freshman to make the football team, played four years under coaches Clipper Smith and Ray Flaherty.
He received his teaching certificate at EWC at Cheney and started a career in coaching. Along the way he picked up graduate studies at St. Louis University and Texas Tech. Teaching chemistry and coaching for many years at Bonners Ferry, romancing and marrying Mabel "Sammie" Heitz, a fellow teacher, brought him many fond memories of a 1935 undefeated season and 40 victories over a five year period. Moving to Lewiston in 1937 he started the baseball tradition with a high school team which won 25 straight games and a Legion program team which went 26-2. In 1940 his legion team won state, regional honors and played for National title and in 1 941 they lost in the finals of the Legion World Series.
After serving as principal at Lewiston, and following the war years he started his farming business, which prospered for 38 years. He served as a school board member, director of the Cattlemen's Association, a lifetime member of NDA, received the Outstanding Farmer Award in 1976, and is a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge. Branom sent many top athletes to colleges and professional careers in athletics and business, among three Hall of Famers are Steve Belko and Tony Knap, he hired at Lewiston and Dwight Church, one of his student-athletes. He has continued to tutor youngsters in chemistry for school and college.
His family included two daughters and one son, and eight grandchildren. Two grandchildren are currently attending Idaho, and two have already received their degrees from Idaho. Branom's son Jim an outstanding agriculturist and farm economist, died in a tragic tractor accident, following an outstanding athletic career at Idaho and "Dunc" will be joining his son as the first "Father and Son" to be so honored by the Idaho Hall of Fame.