Ruel Keith Branham was born on February 16, 1935, to William “Harlie” and Glena Branham in Cumberland County, KY. Harlie was a sharecropper, and the family lived in a small home with a tin roof on the property they farmed. When Keith was 5 years old, the family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, in hopes of a better life. After the move to Indianapolis, Harlie secured a job in a factory and eventually worked his way up to foreman. Keith went to school, and 
the family stressed the importance of a good education. Keith was an excellent student and graduated from Arsenal Technical High School as an accomplished student and cross-country runner. Upon graduation, he planned to become an officer in the Air Force.
During his 32-year career in the Air Force (1955-1987), Colonel Keith Branham flew in B-36, B-52, and F-4 aircraft. The highlight of his military career was spent as a reconnaissance systems officer (RSO) in the illustrious SR-71 “Blackbird” while stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. The SR-71 still holds all the world’s speed and altitude records as it cruises at speeds of more than Mach 3-plus.
After his time in the SR-71, Branham returned to Beale AFB three more times to serve in the 9th SR Wing in various leadership positions. During his service, Colonel Branham received the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal for Air Force Service, and the Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters, among numerous additional decorations and citations.
After 32 years of service, numerous accolades, and a career of service, Ruel Keith Branham retired as a full Colonel, and he and Georgia moved to Glasgow, Kentucky, where Keith’s parents, Harlie and Glena, had retired. Keith and Georgia resided in Glasgow for over 20 years.
In the Spring of 2010, Colonel Keith Branham fell suddenly ill. He was eventually transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for further tests and evaluation. Colonel Branham eventually fell unconscious and was placed in isolation. The doctors were baffled and asked Mrs. Branham if they could do a brain biopsy to help with the diagnosis, and she agreed. Colonel Branham was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer called Intravascular Large B-cell Lymphoma (cancer of the blood vessels), which was only the 2nd case the doctors had seen in over 50 years. Two days later, on May 24, 2010, Colonel Ruel Keith Branham passed away at the age of 75. The cancer was linked to exposure to Agent Orange, most likely during Colonel Branham’s service in Vietnam, flying in F-4 fighter jets.
Even though his career was illustrious, flying in the fastest plane in the world and experiencing moments that few pilots and aviators would ever experience, Colonel Branham’s life was one of service, humility, country, and integrity. If Colonel Branham said he was going to do something, you could be confident that it would be completed with excellence when he said it would be done.
