Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

1930 – 2020

Ray Brokamp is a career educator in the Cincinnati Public Schools who went on to a second career organizing the future leaders of the region. After serving in the Air Force and the Reserves (retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 27 years), Brokamp became a teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools, rising to principal of the jewel of the school system, Walnut Hills High School, and eventually to superintendent of the school district.

After retiring from CPS in 1987, Brokamp still felt a desire to stay active. He had graduated from the third Leadership Cincinnati class, a year-long program sponsored by the Chamber to promote leadership and community service and had joined its steering committee. He became director of the program and served in that capacity for 21years.

Brokamp not only got to know the 1,300 or so who have gone through the leadership program under his direction, he shaped their experiences. Brokamp strived to make the Leadership classes diverse in terms of gender, race, occupations and neighborhoods so the members could benefit from knowing others outside their usual circles.

Brokamp and his wife, Pauline, had five children, four of whom are educators, and three of whom are principals. “The family business is education,” he said.

Brokamp served on the boards of the Cincinnatus Association, Inroads, the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati and Hoxworth Blood Center. He served on the advisory councils of University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, CET, Junior League, Dress for Success and boards of YMCA Metro, National Conference for Community and Justice (Emeritus), Cincinnati.