UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #663
BRENNAN, ROBERT W.

BRENNAN, Robert W. (1934- )
Undergraduate, Assistant track coach, track coach, Associated with the University Research Park, consultant University Wis.-Madison Chancellor's Office, Corp. Relations
At UW: 1955-1959, 1963-1971, 2004-

Interviewed: 2004	
Interviewer: Arthur Hove
Length: 53 minutes

Chief of staff for Madison mayors; Chamber of Commerce; Economic development plans; Wisconsin Technology Council; “Town-gown” relations; Wisconsin Innovation Network; Merger; WARF; Research Park.

First Interview Session (February 23, 2004): Tape 1

Tape 1/Side 1

00:00:42	Robert Brennan talks about his career in coaching track after graduating from university. He worked for mayors Bill Dyke and Paul Soglin as chief of staff. He then worked for the Chamber of Commerce.

00:01:20	As aide to the mayor, he found no plan in place for the city's economic development outside of reliance on the university's growth.  

00:02:42	The Chamber of Commerce was retail-oriented and also lacked any economic development plan and any link with the University of Wisconsin.

00:04:05	RB explains how he came to know Edwin Young and how the UW Chancellor came to have a permanent seat on the Chamber board.

00:05:40	Dave Carley and Reed Coleman helped RB develop an economic plan. Bob Spiegel, editor of the Wisconsin State Journal became interested in the plan.

00:08:27	He relates how Spiegel prompted him to travel to North Carolina to visit the "Golden Triangle" research park with Bob O'Malley and Joel Skornicka. Upon their return, they presented their idea of a technology council ("Wisconsin for Research") to Edwin Young. The council ultimately failed because the business and university communities cooperated poorly.

00:11:20	Five years later, they tried again to establish the Science and Technology Council, which failed. The Wisconsin Technology Council was the third attempt.

00:12:02	He relates the struggle to locate the Research Park at Rieder and Charmany Farms.

00:12:50	RB talks about his work with Chancellor Irving Shain.

00:14:01	He talks about enlarging the membership of the Chamber of Commerce.

00:17:18	Unlike the experience in other municipalities, town-gown relations in Madison were on a good footing because of the integral role of the University in the Madison community; this collaboration facilitated the founding of the research park.

00:20:05	RB discusses the founding of the Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) Foundation with Bob Bock of the Business School and Bob Marshall.

00:21:38	The University Industry Research program was dissolved in May 2003 and replaced with Corporate Outreach, for which RB works.  

00:26:33	Tom Still of the Wisconsin State Journal became executive director of the Wisconsin Technology Council because of his marketing and journalistic capabilities. Currently the WIN Foundation is under the aegis of the Council and not the Chamber of Commerce.

00:28:59	He relates a story about Governor Tommy Thompson's support for the WIN Foundation and international opportunities in Korea.

00:31:05	End of side.

Tape 1/Side 2

00:31:07	Robert Brennan continues to describe forming a committee to present the research park idea to the Korean government in 1999. The success of this trip was a key factor in moving Governor Thompson to support RB in establishing a technology council.

00:33:07	He talks about the passage of funding for the technology council through the state legislature.

00:37:41	RB talks about how the private sector wanted to move ahead more eagerly than did the public sector.

00:39:28	Madison's town-gown relations have garnered attention from other chambers of commerce.

00:44:40	He notes the importance of WARF in establishing the Research Park and in aiding research initiatives such as Covance.

00:46:29	RB and Art Hove discuss at length the acquisition of the Rieder-Charmany site. He specifically notes the efforts of Joel Skornicka in City Hall and the problems posed by a television tower.

00:51:50	RB notes Paul Soglin's changing attitude toward the Research Park.

00:53:09	He talks about the future prospects for the Research Park.

00:53:40	End of side. End of tape. End of interview.

END