broad attended michigan state university, majoring in accounting with a minor in economics and graduating "cum laude" in 1954. among the jobs broad held in college were selling women's shoes, selling garbage disposals door-to-door, and working as a drill press operator at packard motor, where he was a member of united auto workers. the same year, 21-year-old broad married 18-year-old edythe "edye" lawson.