BRANSFORD, John Sterling Jr. Age 82 of Nashville, died June 2nd 2012 of natural causes. A native Nashvillian, he was described by his friend the novelist Jesse Hill Ford, as a "Gentleman, husband, father, raconteur, aviator, industrialist, champion wing shot, fisherman, gambler (when the wheel is to his liking), sportsman and great guy." John was a humorous and caring man who will be sorely missed by his Friday lunch group and a large number of Nashvillians of all ages who will always be his friends. John Sterling Bransford Jr. was born in Nashville, TN on November 23, 1930 and passed away peacefully at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents Helen Dickinson Bransford and John Sterling Bransford Sr., his brother Jacob McGavok Dickinson Bransford and is survived by his his wife of 58 years Nell Hudgings Bransford, two sons, John Sterling Bransford III, Robert Hudgings Bransford, his five grandchildren, Sophie Hart Bransford, Anne Dickinson Bransford, Jocelyn Carlyon Bransford, Mckenzie Nell Bransford, Isabella Katherine Bransford, and Trenholm Lyndsey Bransford; sister Helen Bransford MacInerny, his nieces Maisie McInerney and Anne Bransford Wallace, and his nephews, McGavok Dickinson Bransford, Marion Hamilton Wallace III and Barrett McInerney, his sister in-law Lallie Hudgings Wallace. He attended Parmer School, Montgomery Bell Academy, and graduated from Middlesex in Concord, Mass. He attended the University of the South at Sewanee, TN where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He left Sewanee to join the US Air Force during the Korean War. He returned to Nashville to get his BA at Vanderbilt after his tour of duty. In 1955, he became sales manager of Springfield Woolen Mills. After Springfield, he began a career as an entrepreneur starting successful companies in manufacturing, health care, and early pioneer of online database publishing. In 1958, Mr. Bransford co-founded Cumberland Shoe Corp and Durango Boot Company in Franklin, TN. It became the second largest domestic cowboy boot manufacturer of the time. He served as president and director until it was sold to Georgia Shoe Company. Between 1968 - 1978, Mr. Bransford co-authored "The Wakefield Report on The Need for An Automated Medical Examination System in Conjunction With Expected Social Legislation in The Coming Decade," which was published in numerous governmental publications but first published in the Appalachian Review Commission Report-1967. His work on "The Wakefield Report" provided insight into the problem of rising health care costs which led to his founding of American Health Profiles, Inc, which developed systems for providing health screening / physical examinations on a massive scale . The company's services were sold based on overwhelming statistical evidence that catching illness in early stages reduces overall medical costs. He designed the screening units which were large mobile medical offices equipped to take chest x-rays and maxo-facial dental ekgs as well as hearing booths - ie. The equipment needed to provide a complete medical exam. A full medical exam took less than 30 minutes and could be provided to people at their workplace. The company's service was proven to lower overall health costs for large groups. In 1978, Mr. Bransford founded OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. (VNU - NIELSON) Nashville, TN and New York City in conjunction with Physicians World Limited. The company provided fee-based computer services and database access to corporations. He moved the company's operations to Nashville in 1981. OHS became one of only a handful of pre-internet commercially successful online businesses nationwide. While president of Occupational Health Services, he directed the creation of all software and telecommunications for the three data bases belonging to OHS which are Hazardline, Environmental Health News, and MSOS Systems. OHS was a pioneer of commercial online data sales prior to the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web. The company offered a premium service to business clients needing immediate access to current data concerning work place exposure to OSHA regulated substances. OHS additionally provided a number of related data services over the Telenet Network. OHS provided communications and mail box services on Network Worldwide for a number of corporate clients through the GTE Telenet Network System. It was recognized as the reference source to the US department of labor through its databases on material safety datasheet available online or through CD Rom. Mr. Bransford was chairman of the Health and Safety Committee of the American Society for the Testing of Materials (ASTM), consensus organization that incorporates the views of the International Program for Safety and Chemicals (IPSC) based in the Netherlands. He sold OHS to VNU (now Nielsen Company) the large Dutch publishing concern. Mr. Bransford was a founding member of St. Georges Episcopal Church, member of Belle Meade Country Club and the Bayou Hunting Club. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 2pm with visitation one hour prior to service time at St. Georges Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Alive Hospice | 1718 Patterson St. | Nashville, TN 37203 | Phone: (615) 327-1085, St. Georges Church | 4715 Harding Rd. Nashville TN, 37205 or Walden's Puddle | PO Box 641 | Joelton, TN 37080.
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