College of Business Administration Hall of Honor
2009 Inaugural Inductees
The College honored the following eight exemplary individuals, who have given much to the College and University:- Bruce Brorby ’66,’67
- Gene Jacoby ’60
- Ralph Kliber ’40, ’45
- Walter McKeown ’54
- Germano Mularoni ’53
- Dr. Leonard E. Plachta ’56, ’59
- Robert Rosowski ’62
- Thomas Stuart ’57
Bruce Brorby ’66,’67, is senior associate dean of the College of Business Administration and has served the University since graduation and as an administrator for almost 40 years through nine deans. Over this time, Brorby taught full-time, directed the extension campus at Clarkston and served as assistant and then associate dean of the College before recently being named senior associate dean. Brorby has seen both daughters graduate from the University with honors.
Gene Jacoby ’60, was employed for 37 years at the Chrysler Corporation, and served as a director of Quality and Reliability Planning, director of Domestic Car Product Planning, CEO of the Chrysler Learning Corporation, director of the Chrysler Institute and staff executive to Lee Iacocca. During his career and into retirement, Jacoby volunteered extensively with the Wayne County Private Industry Council, the Urban League and the Detroit Executive Service Corps.
The late Ralph Kliber ’40, ’45, served in leadership roles at accounting firms of Rutten Welling & Co. and Deloitte & Touche before successfully pursuing a career in law. He practiced with Fisher, Franklin, Ford, Simon & Hogg before founding his own firm. He served his community in a variety of roles in his parish, the Archdiocese, accounting and law organizations, and the University of Detroit where he taught auditing. The honor was accepted by Kliber’s son, Tom.
Walter McKeown ’54, rose to become administrative director of the City of Detroit Lighting Department following service in the Army during World War II. McKeown was elected president of the City of Detroit Accounting Association in 1963 and served as director and treasurer of the Detroit Retired City Employee Association. From 1980 to 1990, he was a director of the UDM Graduate Business Alumni Association. McKeown is also an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus.
Following service in the Army, Germano Mularoni ’53, owned and operated the Dearborn Tile Co. for 29 years and formed Germano Management Co. for property syndication, development and management, which currently manages 1,152 home sites. Mularoni has been a licensed Michigan builder for over 50 years. He is a Knight in the Equestrian Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, a Jesuit Companion and a member of Legatus. He has been active in his parish, St. Valentine, the San Marino Social Club and Siena Heights College, and held leadership positions in the U-D High School Alumni Board. He currently is a member and past chair of the Jesuit Associates, the President’s Cabinet (Insignis Member) and Titan Club.
The late Dr. Leonard E. Plachta ’56, ’59, served as a transformational leader as president of Central Michigan University after first teaching at University of Detroit, Alma College and Michigan State University. During his time as president, Plachta implemented the first Leadership Scholar Program and the first bachelor’s degree in Vehicular Design in the nation. He founded the Leadership Institute and the minor in Leadership. He started the Career Services Center at CMU and pursued service-learning projects; added doctoral programs in Audiology, Education Administration and Mathematics; and inaugurated distance learning and off-campus programs. CMU licensed the first charter school in Michigan under his leadership. In addition, Plachta served on numerous boards, including the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation and the Central Michigan Community Hospital. The honor was accepted by Plachta’s wife, Louise.
Robert Rosowski ’62, joined Masco as a financial analyst after serving on the Audit Staff for Coopers & Lybrand. He rose to become controller, then vice president and controller by 1985. The title of treasurer was added in 1996 and Purchasing in 1997. Rosowski has served in leadership positions on the Board of Trustees for Oakwood HealthCare, Inc. and the Oakwood Healthcare Foundation, and the Board of Directors of Detroit Catholic Central High School and the Alumni Board of Directors. He is vice chair of the Audit Committee for the Detroit Institute of Arts and has volunteered with the Accounting Aid Society.
Thomas Stuart ’57, progressed from the Internal Revenue Service to the McCord Corporation where he achieved the position of corporate secretary and assistant treasurer. He then joined the Ex-Cell-O Corporation and achieved vice president and treasurer before joining The Budd Company as vice president of Finance and treasurer until his retirement. Stuart is active with the Tax Executives Institute, Financial Executives Institute, Eastern Michigan University Accounting Advisory Board, Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company Central Advisory Board, the Michigan Catholic Conference Pension Board and the Archdiocese of Detroit Priests’ Pension Plan Board. Stuart also served on the College’s Advisory Board, where he continues as an Emeritus member.
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