James Graham Brown facts for kids

James Graham Brown (born August 18, 1881 – died March 20, 1969) was an American businessman. He was famous for building the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. He was also known for his generous donations to many causes.

His Early Life and Business

James Graham Brown was born in Madison, Indiana. In 1903, he moved to Louisville. There, he started a company with his father and brother. It was called the W.P. Brown and Sons Lumber Company.

Mr. Brown also began building many commercial buildings. These were mostly in Downtown Louisville. Some of his famous projects include the Brown Hotel and the Brown Theater. He also built the Brown Garage and the Commonwealth Building. Another well-known building he developed was Kentucky Towers.

Building Big Things

Even in the 1960s, James Graham Brown was still working on new projects. He helped develop more hotels downtown. He also worked on buildings in the suburbs. One of these was the Brown Suburban Hotel.

He also developed a large area of land. This land was once his farm. It later became Baptist Hospital East. The area around it is now a business and shopping center called Breckenridge Square. For 32 years, he was on the board of directors for Churchill Downs. This is where the famous Kentucky Derby horse race takes place.

During the early 1960s, some of his businesses faced challenges. Laws were changing to ensure everyone was treated fairly. Mr. Brown's hotel and theater eventually followed these new public accommodation laws.

Helping Others: His Philanthropy

Later in his life, James Graham Brown became very active in helping others. This is called philanthropy. In 1962, he promised $1.5 million to help start the Louisville Zoo.

He also gave a similar amount of money to his old college, Hanover College. This money helped build a student center there. He also gave a lot of money to the University of Louisville. He supported many other schools and hospitals too. He was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. Many of his generous donations were kept secret. He lived in a small suite at his own hotel for most of his life.

His Legacy

When James Graham Brown passed away, he did not have any children. His wealth was estimated to be $100 million. This made him the richest person in Kentucky at that time. Most of his money was given to a special foundation. This foundation was named after him.

He had created this foundation in 1943. Over the years, the foundation has given money to many local and state causes. It is still active today. The foundation has given over $462 million through more than 2,700 grants. Some projects that received important donations include Louisville Waterfront Park. The University of Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center also received help. An early donation from the foundation helped create the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Death and Burial

James Graham Brown died on March 20, 1969. He passed away from heart problems. He was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.