Melvin Amos Brannon

Melvin Amos Brannon (1865 – March 26, 1950) was a biological scientist, university dean and (briefly) coach at University of North Dakota for athletics and American football.

He was also the university's director of athletics from 1896 to 1903 and head football coach from 1897 to 1903, compiling a record of 3–3. He retired in 1933 and spent a short time in Europe. He continued writing and publishing scientific research he had undertaken on microalgae at the University of Wisconsin and University of Florida until his death.

Publications Brannon was the author or co-author of a number of scientific and other publications. They included: Melvin A. Brannon, posthumously (1952) Some Myxophyceae in Florida. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Science, 8 pages 296–303 Melvin A. Brannon (1937) Algae and growth substances. Science, October 1937, pages 353–354 (while at University of Wisconsin) Melvin A. Brannon (1932) The Montana System Administering Higher Education. School & Society 35 no. 896 page 270

Head coaching record

Awards and legacy Brannon was awarded honorary degrees by Whitman College (LL.D., 1917), Wabash College (LLD., 1932), Montana State College (LL.D., 1936) and the University of North Dakota (D.Sc., 1947). In the 1960s a new student residence building at University of North Dakota was named after Brannon. The University of Florida Herbarium holds 60 alagal specimens that Brannon collected.

Personal life Bannon was married three times. He first married Lida Lowry, who died in 1919. They had two daughters together. He remarried in 1923 to the widowed Anna Lytle Tannahill. The marriage ended with her death in 1934. He was married for a third time to Yvonne Tissler in 1938, and this was ended by his death.