Rev. Patrick Braden, C.S.B.
Class of 1941

Born in Houston in 1924, son of Dr. Albert H. and Kathleen O’Connor, Rev. Patrick Braden graduated from St. Thomas in 1941. He continued his education at Rice University where he earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and then later attended the University of Texas – Austin where he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

In the mid-1940s, he worked briefly in aviation electronics in the U.S. Navy, before beginning theology studies at St. Basil’s College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On June 14, 1952, the Feast of St. Basil, Father Braden was ordained a Catholic priest and became a member of the Congregation of St. Basil.

His teaching career included instructing at Rice University and Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., and at the University of St. Thomas in Houston where he served as president 1967-1979. He was also the Religious Superior, Basilian Fathers of St. Lucia 1991-1995, and adjunct professor in physics and math at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

His written works include “Design Analysis of Flat-Plate Solar-Heat Absorbers,” M.S. thesis, University of Texas, Austin, 1954; “Measurement of Velocity and Temperature Fields with Heat Transfer,” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Texas, Austin, 1961; “More Hand Rules,” American Journal of Physics, December, 1961; “Van Allen Belt Demonstration,” American Journal of Physics, June 1963; and “University Physics Laboratory for the 21st Century,” Galloway and Braden, 2004. He has also prepared and delivered lectures on “Meteorology and the Bible,” an invited paper to a seminar sponsored by the Weather Research Center, Houston, November 1995; “Science and Scripture – From the Big Bang to the Red Sea” lecture for the Chapel Guild, University of St. Thomas, November 1996; “Some Measurements of ‘g’ in Houston, Texas” American Association of Physics Teachers, San Antonio, March 1998, Braden and Galloway; and “Science and Faith” lectures, St. Cyril Church, Houston, April 2002.

Father Braden's organizational memberships include Tau Beta Pi, in engineering; Sigma Xi, for advancement in research; Pi Tau Sigma, in mechanical engineering; and Distinguished Engineering Graduate, University of Texas at Austin, 1980. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the University of St. Thomas and of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce and American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has served as president of Rochester Area Colleges and the Texas Council of Church Related Colleges, and has been a trustee of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities of New York, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, and Institute for Storm Research.