David H. Bracken, Former Printing Industry Leader, Passes at Age 85

David H. Bracken
1938 - 2024

David H. Bracken passed away in Hartsville, Ohio, on April 19, 2024, at age 85 after an extended battle with dementia-related complications. His decades-long professional career as a commercial printing industry leader eventually earned him a spot as a 2000 inductee into the Printing Impressions Printing Industry Hall of Fame.

As a teen-ager, David's athletic talents led him to attend nearby Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where he furthered his baseball career as a four-year starter and, later, he was inducted into the Mount Union Athletic Hall of Fame. David eventually married his college sweetheart, Janet Jones Bracken, and the couple celebrated 51 years of marriage together.

Both baseball and printing were critical elements in David's formative years. His father, Fred, was one of the founders of Danner Press, and the younger Bracken started working there during summers at the age of 12. He took a full-time position there as a CSR after college, then worked his way up to plant manager in 1963, VP of manufacturing in 1964, and president in 1975. David eventually purchased Danner Press in 1979.

He led Danner Press through very difficult times, including some tough union negotiations over press manning requirements in order to make the company more competitive, and the industry shift occurring in the educational market toward customer demands for shorter run lengths. Since Danner Press was a long-run web offset printing plant, a decision was made to build a facility that could handle the growing demand for shorter runs.

He negotiated with fellow 2000 Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductee, A. Oscar Carlson — then the CEO of the Beddor Group under owner Frank Beddor (himself a former Hall of Fame inductee) — for the Beddor Group to acquire Danner Press in 1983. That paved the way for Bracken, in tandem with the Beddor Group, to construct the Press of Ohio.

David Bracken joined A. Oscar Carlson, American Spirit Graphics; Frank Stillo, Sandy Alexander; and John Frautschi, Webcrafters Inc.; as 2000 Printing Impressions Printing Industry Hall of Fame honorees.

Under his watch, the company was an early adopter of automatic splicers and was one of the first to embrace one-shot hotmelt applicators and inkjet printers. The Press of Ohio was eventually sold to Hess Management Co. in 1991, along with Danner Press and the D.B. Hess Co.

David also gave back to support industry associations on the national level during his career. He was a longtime member of the former Web Offset Association (WOA), which was led by the late Tom Basore, where he held several executive positions, including president. David also served two consecutive terms as president of the Printing Industries of America (PIA).

David will be remembered for his integrity, sense of humor, and his ability to communicate with people on all levels. His laugh and smile will be remembered by so many who he encountered during his life, be it at home with his family, those individuals who he fought so hard for in his work career, as well as his many friends and acquaintances.

Even in his later years, David continued to have a positive impact on other people’s lives while at the The Gables of Green assisted living facility. He was always saying "hi" to someone he didn’t know, or trying to assist anyone if they needed a helping hand. Throughout his life, David loved to work and believed that “nothing good happened until you work.”

He is preceded in death by his son, David Thomas, and is survived by his sons, Douglas S. Bracken of North Canton, Ohio; and Daniel L Bracken of Lebanon, Tennessee. David also has four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

The Bracken family will be honoring David and his late son, David Thomas, at a Celebration of Life from 2 pm to 7 pm on Saturday, May 18^th at the Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following charities in David H. Bracken’s name:

Alzheimer’s Association

https://www.alz.org/eastohio?form=FUNSETYDEFK

JDRF (Two of David’s grandchildren are Type 1 diabetics)

https://www.jdrf.org/michigannoh/