John Y. Brown Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Y. Brown Jr.
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Brown during his term as governor, 1978–82
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| 55th Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office December 11, 1979 – December 13, 1983 |
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| Lieutenant | Martha Layne Collins |
| Preceded by | Julian Carroll |
| Succeeded by | Martha Layne Collins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Young Brown Jr.
December 28, 1933 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 2022 (aged 88) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | 5, including John and Pamela |
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| Education | University of Kentucky (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1959–1965 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Reserve |
John Young Brown Jr. (December 28, 1933 – November 22, 2022) was an American politician and a very successful businessman from Kentucky. He is famous for building Kentucky Fried Chicken into a huge restaurant chain. He also served as the 55th governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983.
John Y. Brown Jr. was the son of a U.S. Congressman. He showed a talent for business early on, even in college. After a short time practicing law, he bought Kentucky Fried Chicken from its founder, Harland Sanders, in 1964. Brown made KFC a global success. He sold his share in 1971 for a large profit.
He then invested in other restaurant businesses. He also owned parts of three professional basketball teams. These included the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels and the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics.
Even though he hadn't been very involved in politics before, Brown decided to run for governor in 1979. He promised to run the state government like a business. He won the election and brought many businesspeople into state government. During his time as governor, he focused on managing the state's finances. He continued his business ventures after his term.
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Early Life and Education
John Y. Brown Jr. was born on December 28, 1933, in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the only son among five children. His father, John Y. Brown Sr., was a member of the U.S. Congress and served in the Kentucky state legislature for many years.
Brown attended Lafayette High School in Lexington. He was a talented athlete, earning many awards in different sports. One summer, he earned a lot of money selling vacuum cleaners. This showed his early business skills.
After high school, Brown went to the University of Kentucky. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1957 and a law degree in 1960. While in law school, he made a lot of money selling Encyclopædia Britannica sets. He even hired classmates to help him sell more. After law school, he worked briefly at his father's law firm. He also served in the United States Army Reserve from 1959 to 1965.
Building a Business Empire
In 1960, Brown married Eleanor Bennett Durall. They had three children. Brown saw how successful a barbecue restaurant his wife managed was. This made him believe in the potential of the fast food industry.
Kentucky Fried Chicken Success
In 1963, Brown met Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1964, Brown and his partner, Jack C. Massey, bought KFC from Sanders for $2 million. They changed KFC from a diner-style restaurant to a fast-food takeout model.
They gave all KFC restaurants a special red-and-white striped design. The company quickly grew, opening over 1,500 restaurants across the U.S. and in other countries. By 1967, KFC was the sixth-largest restaurant chain in the nation. Its stock was first offered to the public in 1969.
For his work with KFC, Brown received many awards. He was recognized as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1966. He was also honored by the University of Kentucky Alumni Association. In 1971, Brown sold his share in KFC for $284 million.
Other Restaurant Ventures
After selling KFC, Brown invested in other restaurant chains. He bought the Lum's chain of restaurants. He tried to improve their food quality. He even hired a chef named Ollie Gleichenhaus to create the "Ollie Burger."
Brown also started a chain of takeout restaurants called Ollie's Trolley. While initially successful, this venture later struggled. He sold the Lum's chain in 1978. A few years later, he launched John Y's Chicken, which also did not succeed. Later, he found more success with Kenny Rogers Roasters, a chain he co-founded with country music star Kenny Rogers.
Ventures in Basketball
Besides restaurants, John Y. Brown Jr. also owned parts of several professional basketball teams. In 1970, he joined a group to buy the American Basketball Association's (ABA) Kentucky Colonels. He later bought full ownership to keep the team from moving to another city.
Brown often made changes to the team. In 1975, he hired Hubie Brown as head coach. The team won the ABA championship the next year. However, Brown later sold the rights to a key player, which upset many fans. In 1976, he decided to close the team during the ABA–NBA merger.
Despite saying he wouldn't be involved in basketball anymore, Brown bought half-ownership of the NBA's Buffalo Braves later in 1976. He made many trades to try and improve the team. In 1977, he bought the rest of the team.
The next year, Brown traded teams with the owner of the Boston Celtics. This allowed the Celtics owner to move his team to California. Brown became the owner of the famous Boston Celtics. However, his decisions, like trading key players, caused tension with the team's legendary president, Red Auerbach. Brown eventually sold his share of the Celtics in 1979.
Political Career
Unlike his father, John Y. Brown Jr. was not very interested in politics for most of his life. He did serve as vice-chairman for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in Kentucky in 1960. He also considered running for the U.S. Senate in 1972 but decided not to.
Running for Governor in 1979
On March 27, 1979, Brown announced he would run for governor of Kentucky. This surprised many people because he had not been very active in politics. He used his own money to fund a big media campaign. He promised to run the state government like a business. He also said he would be a "salesman" for Kentucky.
Brown faced several other candidates in the Democratic primary election. Despite a late start and questions about his voting record, he won the primary. He then defeated former Republican governor Louie B. Nunn in the general election.
Renovating the Governor's Mansion
Soon after moving into the Governor's Mansion, Brown found serious problems with its wiring. He ordered an inspection, which showed the mansion was a fire hazard. Brown moved his family out immediately.
The state decided to renovate the mansion. Brown's wife, Phyllis, helped with the renovation plans. When federal funds for the repairs were stopped, Phyllis organized a group to raise private money. Governor Brown even donated his first year's salary to the project. He also gave up his salary for the rest of his term. The mansion was fully repaired in 1983.
As Governor of Kentucky
Because he was new to politics, Brown appointed many businesspeople to top state jobs. He kept a promise to appoint a woman and an African-American to his cabinet. He also appointed Viola Davis Brown as the first African-American nurse to lead a state office of public health nursing in the U.S.
Brown's time as governor was marked by tough economic times. The state's unemployment rate increased. Brown kept his promise not to raise taxes. Instead, he cut the state budget and reduced the number of state employees. He also increased salaries for the remaining employees. He cut the executive office staff and sold most of the state's government airplanes.
Brown saved money by getting competitive bids for state insurance policies. He also required banks to bid for state funds, which brought in more money. He worked to improve economic ties with Japan. Other achievements included using competitive bidding for government contracts and a new tax on trucks.
Brown was less involved in the law-making process than previous governors. He often went on vacation, leaving Lieutenant Governor Martha Layne Collins to act as governor. She served as acting governor for over 500 days during his term. This allowed the legislature to gain more power.
During his term, Brown received several honors. He was given an honorary degree from the University of Kentucky. He was also named Democrat of the Year by the national Democratic Party.
Near the end of his term, Brown faced serious health challenges, including a rare lung condition. He recovered and changed his lifestyle, quitting smoking and starting to jog.
Later Political Attempts
In 1984, Brown briefly ran for a U.S. Senate seat. However, he withdrew from the race after six weeks due to his health issues.
In 1987, Brown ran for governor again. He faced a crowded field of Democratic candidates. He entered the race late and was attacked by opponents for his lifestyle. He lost the primary election to Wallace Wilkinson.
Later Life and Business
After his last run for governor, Brown went back to the restaurant business. He started the Chicken Grill restaurant. He also helped his wife, Phyllis, launch Chicken By George, a line of chicken products for supermarkets.
In 1991, Brown partnered with singer Kenny Rogers to create Kenny Rogers Roasters. This chain of wood-roasted chicken restaurants grew quickly. It competed with other popular chicken chains. Brown took the company public and expanded it to over 1,000 restaurants. He sold his share in 1996.
Brown married three times. His second marriage was to former Miss America and CBS sportscaster Phyllis George. They had two children, Lincoln and Pamela Ashley Brown. His third marriage was to Jill Louise Roach.
In 2003, Kentucky Route 9 was renamed the "John Y. Brown Jr. AA Highway" in his honor. In 2006, he partnered with actress Suzanne Somers to open a meal preparation store, but it closed after a few months.
In 2008, Brown was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Law Alumni Association's Hall of Fame. He was recognized for his success with KFC, his political career, and his help in establishing the university's Sanders–Brown Center on Aging.
Death
John Y. Brown Jr. passed away on November 22, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 88. He had been dealing with health issues related to COVID-19. His casket was placed in the Kentucky Capitol for two days so people could pay their respects. His funeral was held at the Capitol, and he was buried in the Lexington Cemetery.
