Gene Bracewell of Alpharetta, Georgia retired as president of the National Chemical Division of National Services Industries, a Fortune 300 company, in January 2000. He had been associated with the company for 42 years. Bracewell majored in chemistry and biology at the University of Georgia and Emory University, and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Southern College in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Bracewell served as Imperial Potentate (president and CEO of Shriners International) during the 1984-1985 year, and he has been a member of the Shriners Hospitals Board of Directors since 1975. He was named “Shriner of the Decade” in 1990 for his numerous contributions to the Shriners fraternity and Shriners Hospitals over the years. Bracewell has also served as chairman of the Buildings and Equipment Committee, the Public Relations Committee and the Salaries and Personnel Committee. He was also chairman of the Shriners Hospitals Board of Trustees from 1986–1996. He also spent 15 years as Imperial Treasurer from 1997-2012 and holds an Emeritus status for the same position. Bracewell also holds the Honorary 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.