Many in this group will remember Jack Brown, who was in charge of AFRTS Radio for many years before becoming the first AFRTS Director of Programming. I met him in 1964 when he came to the Southern Command Network in Panama for a staff visit and to see if this newly-arrived program director could cut the mustard. During the succeeding 47 years of our friendship, in AFRTS and Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters (he was a charter member and our president twice), Jack provided me with sage advice and spot-on counseling (e.g., should I leave my wonderful SCN job after 12 years for a stint in the Pentagon as Buzz Rizer's programming chief in the new Navy Broadcasting Service?).
Jack was the kind of man who you liked from "nice to meet you." Always smiling, filled with marvelous AFRTS stories dating back to WWII when he served in the Army at 1016 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood and very proud to be serving the worldwide audience, Jack was the civilian broadcasting expert who his military commanders relied on to give them straight-forward, insightful reports of staff visits and on problems that needed resolution. For the worldwide AFRTS radio service, Jack selected the best program hosts he could find, many of whom stayed onboard for decades.
Jack was one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known. When he retired from AFRTS to run the Don Martin School of Broadcasting in Hollywood, I was honored to be selected by COL Bob Cranston to replace him as the second AFRTS Director of Programming. His strength of character saw him through several years of declining health, succumbing on October 19 just a month shy of his 88th birthday.
Services will be private, but those who wish to leave tributes or messages of condolence for the family may do so by going to
http://www.forevermissed.com/jack-brown .
Gerry Fry
AFRTS Director of Programming (1982-1996)
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