Getting behind the wheel for the first time can be scary, but Andrew Branch helped many people do it with ease through Branch's Driving School.

“My father was really calm and cool and collected, and he always tried to motivate individuals to do the best that they can,” said Della Branch-Bullock, Andrew Branch's daughter.

“He started with his mother and taught her how to drive; then he had siblings. He has six sisters. They wanted him to teach them how to drive. My father decided, 'if I’m going to teach them, I might as well start my own business' and the rest is history,” said Branch-Bullock. 

Andrew started Branch’s Driving School in 1963 and faced challenges. 

“Mr. Branch actually went around the neighborhood and passed out flyers when he first started. He had one car,” said Bob Welcher, a middle manager and classroom instructor at the driving school for 22 years. "Being Black, it was hard for him to get insurance. He said the first time he drove down the street, with a sign on the car, after he got the insurance and so on, he had the police chief following him in his car."

Welcher says Branch never let prejudice affect him, remaining kind and humble. 

“I learned a lot about private business. It’s tough, it’s really tough. He taught me so many lessons,” said Welcher. 

Since Branch’s Driving School opened, it has taught an estimate of more than 800,000 people how to drive. 

“A lot of individuals came into our company by someone referring them to Branch’s Driving School. My father had about 13 locations; he started at Shoppingtown Mall, which is no longer there,” said Branch-Bullock.

Andrew, of course, taught Della how to drive. Over the years, Della and other members of her family worked at the driving school.

“I was with the company for about three years off and on teaching the 5:00 hour, the 6:00 hour and anything else they needed me to do in the office. I did the bookkeeping for a little while,” said Branch-Bullock. 

As Andrew got older, he decided to sell the company to his son Deraux, but he was still heavily involved. In 2019, his son sold the business to two of his co-workers, a husband and wife who worked in banking. 

“And they have retained the name because of the reputation of the school and a good name,” said Welcher. 

This past September, Andrew died at age 91.

“I learned a lot from my father. I learned how to be humble. I learned how to not get upset when things go wrong or not go your way,” said Branch-Bullock.