Jack E. Brown '46, tread war-torn Hiroshima on foot as a U.S. Army soldier a fortnight after the drop of the atomic bomb and 60 years before a lifestyle of philanthropy would earn him the Sterling C. Evans Medal in 2011, the highest honor bestowed on a former student by the Texas A&M Foundation. The retired engineer passed away at the age of 90 in Midland, Texas on Aug. 24, and is remembered as a most generous and accomplished man.
Following his four years of military service, Brown graduated from Texas A&M University with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and petroleum engineering. A decade after he entered industry, Brown founded oil and gas company Wagner & Brown, Ltd. with colleague Cyril “Cy” Wagner Jr. He also held extensive business interests in financial investments, real estate and manufacturing services.
According to Ed Davis, Texas A&M Foundation president, “Jack Brown was a pioneer in the exploration and exploitation of energy. He was a long-time advocate for compressed natural gas.... More importantly, Mr. Brown was a deeply committed philanthropist whose investments at Texas A&M were as wisely planned as his vision for engineering was carried out.”
On April 22, 2005, the Jack E. Brown Engineering Building at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, was formally dedicated. He and his wife, Frances, were lead donors on the project. The architecturally distinct building was designed with state of the art research spaces, classrooms, computer laboratories, departmental offices and more.
The Browns endowed the Jack E. and Frances Brown Chair in Engineering, a title held by Dr. Kenneth Hall, former chemical engineering department head. The Browns contributed major gifts to The Bush School of Government and Public Service and were members of the A&M Legacy Society, the Association of Former Students’ Endowed Century Club and the 12th Man Foundation. Other gifts include the endowment of the Whiting Technology Fund in the Department of Petroleum Engineering and six scholarships for the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
Survivors regale him as a man who had everything. Friend Bruce Edwards shared a 30-year friendship with Jack Brown, describing him as a “solid Texan with a sneak-up-on-you sense of humor,” in addition to having a “tremendously intelligent, analytical mind [with] a heart kinder than can be put into words.”
Jack Brown served on the boards of Midland College, Midland Community Theatre and the Petroleum Museum. Married 64 years, the Browns have three children and 12 grandchildren. A memorial service was held Aug. 29 in Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.
Photo: Jack E. Brown received the Sterling C. Evans Medal in 2011 from the Texas A&M Foundation (Credit: Texas A&M Foundation)