JAMES R. BROWN, LT, USN
James Brown '67
Lucky Bag
From the 1967 Lucky Bag:
JAMES ROBERT BROWN
Piqua, Ohio
A turning point in both the lives of Jim and USNA made when he arrived from Piqua, Ohio, to follow in the footsteps of Halsey, Nimitz, and Satrapa after spending a year at Purdue University. While spending his weekends in Bancroft Hall, he has occasionally found his books and therefore had few problems with academics. However, the time he was able to save was not wasted, for Jim devoted his evenings to a diligent study of the high art of bridge, and won the renowned annual USNA Bridge Tournament. Jim's excellence in personal appearance was known throughout the Brigade, and his shoes were a variable pot of gold for any visiting O.D. Because of his four main attributes, Greatness, Reliability, Understanding and Benevolence, it is obvious that Jim has the qualities of a career officer.
JAMES ROBERT BROWN
Piqua, Ohio
A turning point in both the lives of Jim and USNA made when he arrived from Piqua, Ohio, to follow in the footsteps of Halsey, Nimitz, and Satrapa after spending a year at Purdue University. While spending his weekends in Bancroft Hall, he has occasionally found his books and therefore had few problems with academics. However, the time he was able to save was not wasted, for Jim devoted his evenings to a diligent study of the high art of bridge, and won the renowned annual USNA Bridge Tournament. Jim's excellence in personal appearance was known throughout the Brigade, and his shoes were a variable pot of gold for any visiting O.D. Because of his four main attributes, Greatness, Reliability, Understanding and Benevolence, it is obvious that Jim has the qualities of a career officer.
Loss
James was lost in an air crash at Chase Field, Texas, on March 4, 1970. He was an instructor pilot with Training Squadron (VT) 24.
Other Information
From his hometown paper, the Piqua Daily Call:
Jim played football, basketball and baseball at both Wilder Junior and Central High School and was a member of the Student Council and junior business manager of the Piquonian at Central.
From the June 1970 issue of Shipmate:
Lt. Brown was born in Piqua, and after spending a year at Purdue University entered the Naval Academy, graduating in the class of 1967. After graduation, he began naval air training at Pensacola. He continued flight instruction at Meridian, Ms., returned to Pensacola; and was designated naval aviator when he received his wings at Chase Field, TX., on 16 February, 1969. Lt. Brown was serving as an instructor with VT-24 at Chase Field at the time of his death. He was posthumously commissioned Lieutenant in December, 1969.
Friends and relatives have established the James R. Brown Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to a college-bound senior boy from Piqua Central High School. Gifts are being received by The Piqua National Bank and Trust Co., trustees of the fund.
Lt. Brown is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Brown of Piqua, Oh.; a sister, Mrs. Scott Looney, and his maternal grandparents.
He is buried in Ohio.
Photographs
Photo located by researcher Leslie Pooche; it's almost certainly at the ceremony where James received the wings of a Naval Aviator.
Remembrances
From the Class of 1967's 50th Reunion Yearbook, courtesy of William Belden '67:
Jim Brown (lovingly known as the Grub for his principled refusal to ever shine his shoes in four years) was a much loved member of our class, who grew up on a typical Ohio farm and might have succeeded his dad as Farmer Brown except for one thing: he loved flying more than anything from the time he built and flew model aircraft as a kid. At the Academy, he was legendary for his practical jokes and as a wonderful bridge and poker player. As much as he loved flying, he hated marching and avoided it through calculations ranging from the Cannoneers to Spring Sailing. He was real and without pretense – a wonderful friend, classmate and a character whom most of our class will never forget.
He was killed in 1970 in an aircraft accident near San Antonio, Texas, while instructing a student. He is buried in the VA cemetery near Piqua, Ohio. But his memory is not buried with him and he is deeply and affectionately remembered by his classmates.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
