Bill Braun is a native of Reedley, California, but spent most of his childhood in Salem, Oregon. He enrolled at Fresno Pacific College in the fall of 1967.
During his basketball career he reached double-figures in scoring in 64 of his 79 varsity games. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1970 and '71, and was three times honored by The Fresno Bee as the San Joaquin Valley Athlete of the Week.
On January 9, 1970, he became the first player in FPC history to record a triple-double, tallying 21 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots against Pasadena College. He averaged 14.6 points and 7.9 rebounds during his career and established a scoring record of 1,150 points.
He graduated in 1972 with a major in history, and for the next 13 years specialized in carpentry and residential construction in Dallas, Oregon. In 1985 he, wife Joyce and daughter Margaret moved to Harlan County, Kentucky, as volunteers with Mennonite Central Committee. His efforts to provide housing for residents of one of the poorest regions in the country were featured in the article, “In need of an angel,” in the April 27, 1987, People magazine.
In 1988 he returned to Fresno and completed a Master of Divinity at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. Since his induction he has served as director of the Mennonite Central Committee West Coast Relief Sale and pastor of College Community Mennonite Brethren Church.
* FPC Most Valuable Player, 1969-70, 1970-71
* Pasadena College Invitational All-Tournament Team, 1970
* Occidental College Invitational All-Tournament Team, 1970
* Scored double figures in 64 of 79 career games
* Team leader in scoring in 22 of 79 career games
* Career leader in scoring, field goals & filed goal percentage
* Second in career rebounding
* Three times selected San Joaquin Valley Athlete of the Week
