Upper Iowa University Athletics

Joseph M. Brady, a 1941 graduate of Upper Iowa University, was an outstanding offensive and defensive end and four-year football letter-winner at UIU. He was a starter after the second game of his freshman year and started for the remainder of his career before being sidelined with an injury in his senior year. He was also a member of the track, basketball and baseball teams.

Following graduation, Brady entered Naval Flight Training before transferring to the U.S. Marine Corps as a transport pilot. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross with four stars and an Air Medal with 16 stars during his tour of duty.

He returned to the U.S. in June 1944 and married Janet Olson (Class of 1942). He continued flying transport missions in the U.S. and retired with the rank of Captain in active duty and later retired from the reserves with the rank of Major.

In 1946 he became a commercial pilot, then moved his family in 1950 to a farm north of Hawkeye, IA. He retired from farming in 1980 when Janet passed away. He presently lives in Oelwein.