Breech School of Business Administration and Economics History

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The Breech School of Business Administration and Economics and the Breech building which houses it were made possible through the financial commitment of one of Drury’s alumni, Ernest R. Breech. The Breech School’s curriculum, designed to provide a commitment to business education grounded in Drury’s liberal arts tradition, was seen as a new model for professional schools.    

Through the years, the Breech School has continued to maintain its foundation in a liberal arts, while strengthening its commitment to excellence in business education.  The School is a founding member of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, (ACBSP) and holds Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, (AACSB).  These accreditations demonstrate the high quality of the Breech School’s programs.

The strength of the Breech school has always been the dedication of faculty and staff to student education.  The history of the Breech School is revealed through the memories of alums as they recount stories about the faculty members who influenced their lives.  Names on that faculty roll call include Wilbur Bothwell, Jerry Poe, Charles Mercer, Curt Strube, Paul Rogers, Claudia Cox, and many others. 

Ernest Breech Biography

Ernest R. Breech (1897-1978), a native of Lebanon, Missouri, is remembered best today for his years as head of Ford Motor Company and Trans World Airlines, but these positions were only two of the many facets of his long and successful career.

Mr. Breech attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, from 1915 to 1917. At the end of 1917 academic year he moved to Chicago and took a position as an accountant with Fairbanks-Morse and Company. In 1921, he passed the C.P.A. examination at the University of Illinois with the highest grade, an event he referred throughout his life as giving him the greatest satisfaction of his business career. Read more...
   
   

Breech 50th Anniversary Celebration
On Friday, October 30, 2009 members of the Breech School of Business gathered to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary. The night was filled with speeches commemorating the school's history and honoring its founder, Ernest R. Breech. None other than his grandson, Robert Breech, made the ceremony's opening remarks. He spoke warmly of Ernest Breech, referring to him as "Pop," and told stories of Breech's success in his many business endeavors. Read more…