Biography of William G. Brorein, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net).

USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for 
profit or publication by any other organization or persons.  Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the 
legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof 
of this consent.  The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the 
file permanently for free access.

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

******************************************************************************************

Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
II, page 10, 1923.

BROREIN, WILLIAM G.  Since the history of any country or community is but the biography of 
those who have played the most important part in its affairs, so any adequate description 
of the importance, development and growth of Tampa and Hillsborough County and several other 
adjacent counties in Southwest Florida, must necessarily include something of the character 
and achievements of WILLIAM G. BROREIN who, for two decades has been one of the most prominent 
characters in its material development, as well as a recognized leader in all matters 
pertaining to its moral and social uplift and other public progress.  During this time, in 
addition to the duties of conducting the affairs of its most extensive public utility enter-
prise, he has been a leader of and filled the office of head of nearly every organization 
conducted for the general public welfare. It is therefore fitting that we here give a brief 
biographical sketch of Mr. BROREIN and some of these achievements.

The purpose of biography, and probably its only justification, is to set forth those achievements 
of our fellows in which they have excelled and those attributes of character possessed and 
displayed by them, which seem to have been most potent in such accomplishments, to the end 
that others may strive to emulate them.

Although "W. G." BROREIN, as he is most familiarly known, is a man of versatile character 
and amazing energy, if those who know him best and are most capable of appreciating his qualities 
of mind and traits of character were asked to describe some one note or quality which has 
contributed most to his achievements and to his great popularity, they would agree that it 
is his exemplification of the adage "who would have friends must be a friend".  W. G. BROREIN 
is a friend to all and to every worthy thing or cause.  Though possessing great force of 
character and finely discriminating qualities of mind, he seems to exemplify the spirit of
consideration for the views of others which brings differing opinions and influences together 
in thorough co-operation.

During the entire period of his residence in Florida, he has been president and general 
manager of the Peninsular Telephone Company, operating the telephone exchanges and toll 
lines throughout Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Pinellas counties.  No public service is 
more calculated to make for the unpopularity of its management than the telephone.  Yet, 
every year of his management of this corporation whose business and operations now extend 
into many millions of dollars, has increased his popularity throughout the field of its 
operation.  Between the company itself and the public there exists an attitude of co-operation 
and friendliness that is unusual for a public service corporation to receive and the company 
has been extolled editorially by at least one leading daily journal of Tampa as a model corporation 
whose business practices have always placed community interests first, and whose methods of 
fair dealing are worthy of the commendation of the entire community.

Mr. BROREIN was one of several children and was born on a farm near Marion, Ohio, October 30, 
1861.  When he was four years of age his parents removed from there to Auglaize County, Ohio, 
where they resided during his minority and where he attended the public schools.  He later 
attended the Northwestern Ohio Normal School, and like many other prominent men, began his 
career as a teacher in the public schools in which profession he remained for several years.  
On October 29, 1883, Mr. BROREIN was united in marriage to SARAH E. BUTCHER, at Wapakoneta, 
Ohio, and they have one daughter, EDNA.  In 1886, he engaged in mercantile and manufacturing 
business, at Buckland, Ohio, in which he continued until 1901, and established a reputation 
for the highest business integrity and sound business methods.  During this period he also 
became active in all matters of public interest, and in politics as a democrat, serving from 
1893 to 1897 as a member of the lower house of the Ohio State Assembly, and from 1897 to 1901
as a member of the Senate from the Thirty-second District of Ohio.  As a member of the Legislature 
he took an active part in all progressive legislation, being author of the bill which became 
law, remaining in effect for many years, reorganizing the public schools of Ohio on a modern 
basis.  He represented the Democratic minority on all important committees during this period, 
serving on the Finance Committee during the entire period in both houses.  While in the Senate 
he served with President Harding, then in the Ohio Senate, being elected president pro-tem 
while Harding, as Lieutenant Governor, was president of the Senate.

It was about the time of the expiration of this period of service in the Ohio State Assembly 
that he perceived the possibilities of the development of the telephone interests of Tampa and 
Southwest Florida, up to that time almost completely neglected, there being only a few small 
exchanges with substantially no toll line service south of Jacksonville.  The principal exchange 
operated in Southwest Florida was that of the Bell Company at Tampa, with some 300 old-fashioned 
telephones in service.  Having procured in the name of himself and his associates a franchise 
for the installation and operation of a telephone system in the City of Tampa early in the 
year 1901, he returned to Ohio and enlisted capital among the local friends who had learned 
to repose confidence in his integrity and business judgment during his years of business 
activity in their midst, and investing along with them the greater part of his personal holdings, 
he adopted Tampa and Florida as his home.  Since that time he has been one of the most active 
and progressive business men in the state, as well as a leader in all matters of social 
uplifts and commercial and economic advancement.

As president of the Florida State Telephone Association for many years, he was largely instrumental 
in securing the enactment by the Florida Legislature of those laws placing the telephone properties 
of the state under commission regulation as to rates, and other matters connected with their 
operation in which the telephone patrons and public generally could be interested.  The growth 
of this enterprise has been one of the most phenomenal of any public utility throughout the 
country.  It began with an authorized capital stock of $50,000 in 1901, and before the end of 
the first year had increased its authorized capital stock to $500,000 of stock and an equal 
amount of bonds, and installed small exchanges, ranging from 50 to 300 telephones, connected 
by toll lines, in several counties.  The total number of subscribers of this system at the 
time of installation did not exceed 800.  At the time of this writing its subscription list 
approximates 20,000 subscribers, 10,000 of which are on the Tampa main and several sub-exchanges, 
and the remainder on the fourteen other exchanges operated at Bradentown, Palmetto, Sarasota, 
Bartow, Lakeland, Plant City, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Mulberry, Largo, Winter Haven, 
Frostproof, Lake Wales and Haines City.  All these exchanges and other communities are connected 
by a system of more than 2,000 miles of metallic toll circuits, extending throughout the 
counties of Hillsboro, Polk, Manatee and Pinellas, with connections with all other toll 
lines and exchanges throughout the state, as well as connection with the Bell system giving 
long distance service throughout the country.

The confidence reposed in Mr. BROREIN by his co-investors has been equaled by the telephone 
using patrons his company has served, and in connection with the telephone service under his 
management, his name is probably better known and more freely used than the name of the company 
itself; and it is safe to say that no man within the territory of his activities shares a greater 
degree of popularity than does WILLIAM G. BROREIN.

There is a saying "if you want something done get a busy man to do it" and this is another 
adage exemplified by Mr. BROREIN.  As would be expected, the demands upon Mr. BROREIN's time 
for the conduct of these telephone interests, in order to maintain the high standard of 
service the company has at all times maintained, would  have been sufficient to prevent most 
men, even of the highest ability, from engaging in other activities; but not so with W. G. 
BROREIN.  As has already been said, he has, during this time, been a leader in all matters 
of general public interest, serving from 1916 to 1918 as president of the Tampa Board of Trade, 
from 1918 to 1919 as president of the Tampa Rotary Club, and at the present time and for 
several years past, as president of the Tampa young Men's Christian Association and also 
the Tampa Associated Charities.  His most notable work in Florida has been rendered in connection 
with the South Florida Fair Association, of which he is president, and it is largely due 
to his personal efforts that  this annual exhibition has attained such success, attracting 
as it does, national and international attention.  He served as a member of the Charter 
Board which drew up the charter under which the government of Tampa is now operated; as 
chairman of the Florida Centennial Purchase Exhibition Commission appointed by the Legislature; 
as chairman of the commission appointed by Governor Trammell in 1917 to investigate the 
needs of the Institution for Feeble Minded, and upon whose recommendation to the Legislature 
the present Institution for Feeble Minded was established at Gainesville.  He is a member 
of the Knights of Pythias and a member and active worker in the First Christian Church of 
Tampa.

Thus is briefly summarized the growth of one of the industries of Southwestern Florida which 
has had no small part in the remarkable development of this section of the state, and the 
accomplishments and activities of a man whose time and talent have been freely given in the 
interest of community up building and whose influence has been and will continue to be, 
far reaching.