William J. Bresnan1933 - 2009

Bresnan Communications was founded in 1984 by industry Pioneer William J. Bresnan , a visionary in the cable television industry whose career spanned over 50 years. Mr. Bresnan entered the industry during the early days of community antenna television and rose to become the President and CEO of the nation's largest cable company and ultimately started his own cable company, Bresnan Communications which he guided through 25 years of growth, innovation and dedication to its customers and employees.

Mr. Bresnan, born in Mankato MN, began his cable career in 1958 when at the age of 25 he designed and built his first cable system in Rochester, MN. When that system was acquired by entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke in 1965, Mr. Bresnan joined the Cooke executive team. Cooke's holdings were ultimately merged with TelePrompTer Corporation. Mr. Bresnan served as President of TelePrompTer's Cable Television Division from 1974 to 1981. In 1981, Westinghouse Electric purchased TelePrompTer and Mr. Bresnan was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the new company, Group W Cable, Inc. He left Group W Cable in 1984 to found Bresnan Communications, a company which initially operated cable systems both in the upper Midwest and internationally and which currently operates throughout the Rocky Mountain states.

Throughout his career, Mr. Bresnan played a leadership role in the cable television industry. He did so formally through industry associations, having testified before the FCC and U.S. congressional committees on a wide range of communications and copyright issues. Known as one of the cable industry's leading contributors to technological advancement, he played a major role in the development of the first domestic satellite transmission as well as the country's first commercial fiber optic communications system. He was the recipient of virtually every award and recognition within the cable industry and was inducted into both the Cable Television Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

Mr. Bresnan, having been raised, along with 3 siblings, by a single mother in a depression era Midwestern agricultural community, attributed much of his success to having been the recipient of timely mentorship and remained dedicated to returning the benefit of his experience to the people around him. He did so through his association with diversity groups like The Emma Bowen Foundation, Inner City Foundation and the Fiver organization.

Mr. Bresnan served for over 35 years on the Board of Directors of the National Cable Telecommunications Association. He served on the Board of Directors of The Cable Center in Denver since its inception and was Chairman of the Executive Committee and member of the Board of Directors of C-SPAN. He was a Board member of Cable Television Laboratories and the Cable TV Pioneers. A supporter of diversity in the workplace, Mr. Bresnan was also a member of the Board of Directors of The Emma Bowen Foundation, which promotes employment opportunities in media for economically disadvantaged minority students. Previously, he served on the Boards of Directors of Cable in the Classroom and the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau. A firm believer in the advancement of women throughout the industry, Bill Bresnan was an honorary lifetime member of Women in Cable and Telecommunications.