Purdue University Northwest Athletics officially unveiled the new Napoleon and Sharon Brandford III Lobby on Tuesday, September 14, celebrating the generosity, accomplishments and enduring legacy of two distinguished members of the Purdue Northwest community.
Generously donated by Purdue Northwest alumnus Napoleon Brandford III and his wife, Sharon Brandford, the newly named lobby serves as a lasting tribute to their commitment to education, athletics, public service and the Northwest Indiana community.
Joined by family and friends, Chancellor Chris Holford, Purdue Northwest Athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes, the Brandfords helped mark the historic occasion with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"Napoleon and Sharon Brandford represent the very best of what it means to be a Purdue Northwest Lion," Purdue Northwest Director of Athletics Rick Costello said. "Their accomplishments in athletics, education, business, law and public service are extraordinary, but what stands out most is their continued commitment to giving back and investing in future generations. This lobby will serve as a lasting reminder of their incredible story and the impact they have made throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and proud to honor them in this way."
A Legacy Built in Northwest Indiana
Napoleon Brandford III was starting center for the 1970 East Chicago Roosevelt state championship team that went 28-0. It was the third consecutive undefeated regular season for the Rough Riders, compiling a 71-2 record over three seasons.
Brandford was selected that year for the Indiana All-State team, and then went on to earn freshman All-American honors at the University of Nevada. He averaged 25.6 points and 18.4 rebounds, which are still school records for a freshman. As a sophomore, he suffered a career-ending injury. Brandford then returned to Northwest Indiana where he completed his degree at the Hammond campus, which prepared him for a successful career in finance. In 2022, Brandford was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame.
As a co-founder of Siebert Brandford Shank Inc., he was chairman of the largest Black- and woman-owned investment firm on Wall Street. In 2010, Siebert Brandford Shank Inc. was ranked the #8 public finance firm on Wall Street - the first time in history a small firm was ranked in the top 10. He was a lead investor in the Gary Steelheads of the CBA and served from 1998-2014 on the NCAA Corporate Advisory Board.
He continues to hold a passion for basketball and remains a dedicated Purdue Northwest supporter.
A Legacy of Service
Sharon Brandford, an accomplished attorney and administrative law judge, began her journey in South Florida, where she helped desegregate her high school. She later earned her degrees from UCLA and the University of Southern California and went on to serve in public service, private practice, and higher education.
Together, Napoleon and Sharon have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to philanthropy, supporting education, youth development, and community initiatives.
A Lasting Home for the Brandford Legacy
The Napoleon and Sharon Brandford III Lobby now stands as a permanent part of Purdue Northwest Athletics, providing a space where current and future generations of Lions can be inspired by the accomplishments and values of the couple whose generosity made the project possible.
The ribbon-cutting brought together the Brandford family, friends, university and athletic department leadership, coaches and student-athletes to celebrate not only the opening of a new space, but also the enduring relationship between the Brandfords and Purdue Northwest.
For Brandford, whose journey took him from an undefeated state championship basketball team in East Chicago to collegiate All-American recognition, a career in public finance and induction into multiple halls of fame, the lobby represents another chapter in a remarkable story that began in Northwest Indiana.
The Napoleon and Sharon Brandford III Lobby will now serve as a lasting symbol of that journey and of the Brandfords' continued investment in Purdue Northwest and the students and student-athletes who will carry the university's legacy forward.
