I hope the fishing is good in heaven.
Memorial Service: Saturday, March 1, 2:00 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, Gainesville GA
Roger Henry Brown, Sr., was born on November 22, 1921 in Wheeler County, Georgia, the son of Daisy Blann and William Sloan Brown. He had five siblings -- Verna, Carrie Lee, Eva Dee, Waldo, and Dorothy Hilda. He grew up on a small farm near the town of McRae, Georgia and at age 21, entered Company A of the United States Navy’s 78th Construction Battalion (SeaBees), serving from 1942-45. His company was charged with building runways, docks and housing on a series of Pacific Islands including New Caledonia, New Guinea, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Ponam and ultimately, Okinawa. On Ponam, the Company was charged with the daunting task of constructing an operational runway in 11 days and succeeded, foreshadowing a future signature achievement in Brown’s career.
Upon the war’s conclusion, he enrolled in the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated in 1952 with a degree in civil engineering. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. At Georgia Tech, while still a student, he was asked to design a bridge in nearby Athens and was one of the first to use a new approach to engineering design called the “critical path method”. He liked to point out that University of Georgia football fans would often stand on a bridge designed by a Georgia Tech engineer to watch football games.
Also in 1952, Brown wed Mary Carolyn Moore to whom he was happily married for 61 years. They began married life in Rome, Georgia and moved in 1956 to Gainesville. He worked for several years for the Georgia Department of Transportation before being hired in 1963 to Southeastern Highway Contracting Company as an engineer. He was quickly named President and under his leadership, the fledgling company grew to be one of the most successful highway contractors in the state.
Southeastern built hundreds of miles of interstate highway in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and North and South Carolina. The firm also undertook a job with a biblical timetable, the construction of runways on the new Atlanta Airport over a compressed schedule of 40 days and 40 nights, while the existing airport continued to operate. Severe penalties would be imposed if the schedule was missed and bonuses awarded if it was exceeded. Perhaps having learned from the Navy experience on the island of Ponam, Brown and Southeastern completed the project ahead of schedule.
In addition to his career, Brown was generous in his service of the community. He was a member of Rotary and served as its president in 1987-88. He served as President of the Chattahoochee Country Club from 1972-73. He was appointed to the board of directors of the First National Bank of Gainesville and served from 1974-92. He received the 1977 Public Service Award from the Consulting Engineers Council of Georgia, was named Engineer of the Year in Construction by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers in 1978, and recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Highway Contractors Association. In 1978, he was given the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America for his service. In 2000, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
Despite his numerous achievements, friends and family knew him as a quiet, caring, and loving person. He was generous and modest to a fault. Employees of his company frequently showed up at his door for advice, encouragement, even emergency loans, which he offered without hesitation. While talented at games of all kinds, like Scrabble, chess and poker, he was legendary for his skills at checkers. On the ship that carried his company home from World War II, another company was combined with his. The checkers champion of that company had heard of Brown’s prowess and challenged him, refusing to quit until he won. The two company champions met in single combat at first supported by large cheering sections. They competed for eighteen hours -- the other player never won a game.
Brown was a devoted and loving husband and an unconditionally supportive father. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Roger, Jr, daughter-in-law Linda Mason, three grandchildren, Farrell, Lucas and Gracie, and his brother Waldo.
Gifts in lieu of flowers may be offered to:
Berklee College of Music American Roots Music program (Under "Designation" choose "American Roots Music Program".)
A charity of your choice
Tributes
Leave a tributeI hope the fishing is good in heaven.
What a remarkable life! Diane and I express our deepest sympathy for you Linda and your family.
Dean
I have been thinking of you since your speech, sending you love and strength. Your Dad had an amazing ride on this planet. I'm grateful to him for creating you. Warmly, Lauren
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. It was a pleasure and an inspiration to read the stories about your father, thank you for sharing him with all of us. A loss of a parent, no matter how old you are, is a deeply difficult transition. Know that you have friends and colleagues who are here to share your grief and support you in any way that we can.
Fondly, Chris Connors and Bev Bates
Wendy and I were saddened to hear of the loss of your Father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It sure sounds like your Dad had a rewarding life filled with achievement and experience. We know that he will be missed. Kind regards, Paul and Wendy
I am thinking of you and Linda and send my love and prayers. Sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Your father lived such a fulfilling life! I have to say the checkers story was my favorite!
Respectfully,
Sheryl Hoss
Very sorry to know that you dad has passed away! It must be very difficult and sad for you and your family! From what I read, Mr Brown is a great man and left many fond memories to his friends and the family. We would like to send our condolences at this difficult time and hope you would get over it soon! Regards, Patrick, Anna and Tiffany from Hong Kong
We are thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. Your father sounds like an amazing man with many accomplishments.
Deepest sympathies,
Rob and Cori Green
How strangely poignant and incredibly meaningful that your father passed just hours after your moving portrait of him to our Berklee community. I had noted and sent some of your words to my wife, as an inspiration on How To Live. So, this loss is deeply felt, though I never had the privilege of meeting such a wonderful man. I am so sorry, Roger, and hope your heart can receive God's comfort in the days ahead. "Be still, my soul..." Your Dad must be so proud of you, Sir. Mushtageen, Roger Sr.
Peace,
Tom Baskett
It is what we remember
After the journey's done...
My thoughts are with your family and all those touched by to life of Roger H. Brown, Sr.
So sorry for your loss. From the notes and especially from the photo, I'm sure that he was a wonderful dad. You were and are blessed.
Respectfully, Jack
Our sympathies.
John & Lisa Baboian
My sincerest and deepest condolences on the loss of your father. What a wonderful dad and role model, may he rest in peace. May it bring some comfort knowing that you and your family are in the thoughts and prayers of the entire Berklee community during this sad, difficult time. -Joe Carrier
My deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss. It was a wonderful tribute you shared with us at BTOT about your father. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Wonderful tribute. Your father was a great man and an inspiring figure. May his light keep shining on you. My deepest condolences and all the best to you and your family.
Our best wishes go out to you and your family in your time of sadness. Here's to his long and rich 92 years of life!
Guy and Nikki
So sorry to hear about your dad.
You and your family are in our hearts and prayers.
Much Love
Larkin and Jackie
I'm sending on my deepest condolences on the death of your beloved father. Thank you so much for sharing so many personal memories of him during our BTOT conference. This tribute is beautiful and clearly, you are an amazing product of him. You are in my thoughts~
Kaye Kelly
I will keep your father in my prayers. May God bless him, and continue to watch over you and give you strength during this difficult time.
My heartfelt thoughts go out to you and Linda, your mother, and the rest of your family as you mourn the passing of your father and also as you celebrate his remarkable life -- both now and in the days ahead. God bless you all and sustain you through this transition.
Most warmly,
Kathryn Wright
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of such a remarkable father, brother, husband and friend. It is inspiring to read about his accomplishments in such a touching tribute. I am sending my warmest thoughts to you and your family. Strength to you and yours in the time ahead.
Our heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
Rebecca and Jack
Deepest condolences... My wife and I will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers...
Harry
Thank you for sharing this story. He sounds like an amazing man and I'm sure he'll be greatly missed. He raised a fine son and you're in our thoughts during this difficult time.
Best Regards,
Davis
Sheila B
Jim H
My deepest condolences for your loss. My father passed while I was on a gig the day before the beginning of the semester 9/10/2000! I will never forget that feeling as well as the strength and blessings my father passed on to me. May you and your family be blessed and thankful for what your father gave you!
Scott deOgburn
Sorry to hear about your Dad. I can easily see his influence on your life.
Lois and I will be praying for you and your family.
God Bless,
rs
Best regards,
Laurie Hughes
Leave a Tribute
I hope this note finds you well as you continue to celebrate the life of your loving father. And certainly, I wish you nothing but success as you continue with the next chapter of your life and outstanding career.
I am happy to continue our relationship by way of this remembrance of your dad and his excellent life. Those of us who have experienced the talent and persona of the son he bore are fortunate for sure. And ultimately, I know that he continues to be proud of you, just as I am, to have called you colleague.
Be well!
Like Father Like Son
I never had the good fortune to meet your Father Roger. But I know that the greatest work parents can do is raisie young men and women who are morally, ethically solid individuals. Your works are a powerful reflection on your parents.
No matter what environment or situations we face as children, if our lives have been grounded in love and integrity we usually will make the right decisions. I know the pain of losing a Father. I lost mine one week before he was to retire. It was sudden and shocking. But he walks with me everyday. The challenges he faced as a young boy in the South were different from those of your Father, but they both raised sons who have established common ground. We hold these men in high esteem because they walked their walk and talked their talk.
I pray that you will find peace and will remember those moments when you gazed out and saw the proud look on your father's face as his son represented the family in grand form.
God bless you and your family.