William Bresnan
Encyclopedia
William J. Bresnan was an American
businessman who founded Bresnan Communications
in 1984. He was also the chairman of the company until his death in 2009.
William Bresnan was born in Madison Lake, Minnesota
in 1933. He was the third of four children of Ann and Robert Leonard Bresnan. When Bresnan was five years old, his father died from tuberculosis
leaving Ann to take care of the family working as a seamstress.
At 12, Bresnan began fixing radios for his neighbors working out of his home and the local radio shop. He attended a two year program focusing on television and radio repair at Mankato Technical School, which is now called South Central College
.
Eventually, he was offered a job at the Northwest Radio and Electronic Supply – when Bresnan heard that a cable system was going to be built in Mankato, he set up a distributorship agreement with Times Wiring Cable, the company that supplied the cable.
In 1958, Brennan, along with engineer Joseph Poire, built the Mankato cable system. When Poire offered him the job as assistant chief engineer of the newly minted Rochester, MN cable system, he signed on. When the chief engineer of the Rochester system disappeared, Bill took over and for the next seven years led a life filled with family and work.
In 1965, Jack Kent Cooke purchased the Rochester system and offered Bill the position of chief engineer. Bresnan agreed, marking the beginning of a 50 year history as a pioneer in the cable industry.
After merging with H&B American Corporation to form H&B American Cablevision in 1968, Cooke made Bresnan president. Two years later, the company merged with MSO TelePrompTer and by 1974 had reached a goal of a million customers.
Ultimately TelePrompTer was sold to Westinghouse and after managing the transition Bresnan was determined to create his own MSO and seized the opportunity when he won a bid for five systems in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This was the beginning of Bresnan Communications.
In 2000 Bresnan communications sold their North American cable systems to Charter Communications. In April 2002, Bresnan Communications re-entered the US cable management business through the purchase of the former TCI Rocky mountain systems in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado – this is the company that exists today as Bresnan Communications.
William J. Bresnan died on November 27, 2009, at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut
, from complications due to cancer at the age of 75.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who founded Bresnan Communications
Bresnan Communications
Optimum West is a division of Cablevision that operates in the Rocky Mountain area, servicing Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. It offers digital cable, high speed internet, and digital voice services to over 300,000 subscribers....
in 1984. He was also the chairman of the company until his death in 2009.
William Bresnan was born in Madison Lake, Minnesota
Madison Lake, Minnesota
Madison Lake is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,017 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1933. He was the third of four children of Ann and Robert Leonard Bresnan. When Bresnan was five years old, his father died from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
leaving Ann to take care of the family working as a seamstress.
At 12, Bresnan began fixing radios for his neighbors working out of his home and the local radio shop. He attended a two year program focusing on television and radio repair at Mankato Technical School, which is now called South Central College
South Central College
South Central College is a two-year comprehensive community and technical college located in southern Minnesota ....
.
Eventually, he was offered a job at the Northwest Radio and Electronic Supply – when Bresnan heard that a cable system was going to be built in Mankato, he set up a distributorship agreement with Times Wiring Cable, the company that supplied the cable.
In 1958, Brennan, along with engineer Joseph Poire, built the Mankato cable system. When Poire offered him the job as assistant chief engineer of the newly minted Rochester, MN cable system, he signed on. When the chief engineer of the Rochester system disappeared, Bill took over and for the next seven years led a life filled with family and work.
In 1965, Jack Kent Cooke purchased the Rochester system and offered Bill the position of chief engineer. Bresnan agreed, marking the beginning of a 50 year history as a pioneer in the cable industry.
After merging with H&B American Corporation to form H&B American Cablevision in 1968, Cooke made Bresnan president. Two years later, the company merged with MSO TelePrompTer and by 1974 had reached a goal of a million customers.
Ultimately TelePrompTer was sold to Westinghouse and after managing the transition Bresnan was determined to create his own MSO and seized the opportunity when he won a bid for five systems in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This was the beginning of Bresnan Communications.
In 2000 Bresnan communications sold their North American cable systems to Charter Communications. In April 2002, Bresnan Communications re-entered the US cable management business through the purchase of the former TCI Rocky mountain systems in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado – this is the company that exists today as Bresnan Communications.
William J. Bresnan died on November 27, 2009, at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, from complications due to cancer at the age of 75.