MARY MEAUX AND MIKE TOBIAS
The Port Arthur News
PORT NECHES March 04, 2009 03:46 pm
— Harvey Brown loved his community.
That much is evident by the amount of years he devoted to work with the Port Neches and Port Neches-Groves ISD School Boards. The longtime trustee and past-board president (1986-1987) died Monday, March 2 at Methodist Hospital in Houston after a lengthy illness that kept him out of several school board meetings.
This May would have marked Brown’s 32nd, non-continuous year on the school board. That is unusual, according to Board president Rusty Brittain, who says for some reason people just don’t seem to serve such long tenures.
“For whatever reason they don’t anymore,” Brittain said. “But Harvey loved the district — he was a great board member and had a lot to contribute. Especially because of his knowledge — he had faced a lot of situations, though in different settings and different times.”
Take for example the district’s recent coaching search that resulted in the hiring of Brandon Faircloth, he said. With former coach Matt Burnett having spent 15 seasons at the helm, not many current trustees have been involved in a head football coach search before, except Brown and James Green.
“Harvey had actually been through a couple of coaching changes,” Brittain said. “In this last search, he proved how valuable his experience really was. He had quite a bit of insight in the process, which ensured that we would not be starting from zero — at least we had his perspective.”
The loss of Brown was a shock to those who knew him, Brittain said. The last doctors report indicated he would be home from the hospital this Friday.
“It’s tough,” Brittain said. “It’s just tough. He was one of those guys you thought would always be there.”
“Mr. Brown’s experience was valuable to the Board when deliberating various issues,” PN-GISD Superintendent Lani Randall said. “His dedication to PN-GISD students and staff was admirable and he will be truly missed.”
Bonnie Jennings, Randall’s secretary, has known Brown for many years.
“Not only have I lost a friend but PN-GISD students and staff have lost one of their greatest advocates,” Jennings said. “Harvey enjoyed stopping by our office or at least calling every day to find out if there was any “breaking news” in the district. Whether the subject was bond construction or the employee compensation plan, he studied the issues and never took any decisions lightly. I feel so blessed to have known him.”
Aside from his work with the school board, Brown served his community for many years on another level — as a member of the Freemasons. As a mason, he met several of his current trustees, including Dr. Gary Stretcher.
“He and I go back 1997,” Stretcher said. “That’s when I moved to the community. He was affiliated with the Port Neches Masonic Lodge, and that’s where I met him soon afterwards.”
Prior to serving together as fellow PN-GISD trustees, the two first served as officers in the lodge.
“He did what he could for the lodge and for his community without thought of recognition or special honors,” he added.
Brown received his 50-year Masonic membership certificate from the Grand Lodge of Texas on Aug. 28, 2002. Raised to the degree of Master Mason on June 10, 1953, Brown served as Master of Port Neches Lodge No. 1163 from 1962-63 and again in 2002-2003.
“Harvey took Masonic teachings to heart,” Stretcher said. “The best example of his devotion to the fraternity happened in 2005 — that’s when our lodge awarded him Golden Trowel Award. That’s not a very routine award — it recognizes a brother for his devotion to the lodge, for keeping Masonic principals and through his own actions and encouraging actions of lodge.”
Stretcher said it was not unusual for Brown to take an active role in the lodge’s fundraisers, either greeting people as they arrived or manning the fish fryer himself.
“He was great at greeting visitors,” he said. “We always encourage our members to serve in the community. If fact, when he came back for a second tenure as a trustee he used to ask me from time to time if I ever thought of serving on the school board.”
Saying that he might at some point, Brown took Stretcher up on it years later when, upon the death of Trustee Trudy Holder, Brown recommended Stretcher to be appointed for the one year term.
“It was an honor to work with him — he brought a very common sense way of looking at things and he had the pulse of the community. I haven’t met anyone who knows the Port Neches community like Harvey did.”
Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett, who is a former school board member, called Brown a mentor to young elected officials such as himself.
“He was a person of great character, so unselfish, always helping people,” Burnett said. “I think if Harvey Brown called in all his favors he would have the whole state of Texas working for him.”
Burnett has a special place in his heart for Brown.
“If you are down on your luck or need a lift, I’ll tell you what would work. I’d always go by Harvey Brown’s house. It worked in every situation and every circumstance,” he said. “When you walk in, you’d feel so welcome. It wasn’t because of who you are or how much money you made — it was because he truly cared about you. And when you’d walk away you’d feel 10 feet tall.”
Funeral arrangements are pending at Livingston Funeral Home in Port Neches.
For a complete list of highlights of Harvey Brown’s life, visit this story online at: www.panews.com
mtobias@panews.com, mmeaux@panews.com
Highlights in the life of Harvey R. Brown, Sr.
Born February 26, 1929, in Hudson, Texas to Eddie and Hazel Brown
Graduated Hudson High School in 1946
Moved to Port Neches in 1946 and was employed at B.F. Goodrich
Member of the First United Methodist Church since moving to Port Neches
Joined the OCAW Workman’s Committee in 1955, serving as chair 1960-63
Managed Little League and Colt League baseball for nine years
With the assistance of Allen Whitman, Harvey laid out, marked off, and built youth baseball fields that remain in use today
Elected to the Port Neches ISD Board of Trustees in 1966 and served 25 years. Re-elected to the Board in 1997 and served to the present
Honored by the Port Neches Rotary Club as its 2004 Citizen of the Year
Two children: Tina Robinson of Santa Fe, Texas and Harvey R. “Ray” Brown, Jr. of Lufkin
Three grandchildren: Beka and Louie Robinson, and Spencer Brown
MASONIC HISTORY OF HARVEY R. BROWN, SR.
Raised to the Degree of Master Mason on June 10, 1953
Served as Master of Port Neches Lodge #1163 1962-1963 and 2002-2003
Became a dual member of Lufkin Lodge #669 in November 1992
Appendent Bodies: Member of the Royal Arch and Council since 1954. 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Houson Consistory. El Mina Shrine Temple, Galveston.
Received 50-year membership certificate from the Grand Lodge of Texas on August 28, 2002.
