Ron Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Brown
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| 30th United States Secretary of Commerce | |
| In office January 22, 1993 – April 3, 1996 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Barbara Franklin |
| Succeeded by | Mickey Kantor |
| Chair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office February 11, 1989 – January 21, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Paul G. Kirk |
| Succeeded by | David Wilhelm |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Harmon Brown
August 1, 1941 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | April 3, 1996 (aged 54) near Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Alma Arrington
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 2, including Michael |
| Education | Middlebury College (BA) St. John's University, New York (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1962–1967 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Ronald Harmon Brown (born August 1, 1941 – died April 3, 1996) was an important American politician. He made history as the first African American to serve as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He held this role during the first term of President Bill Clinton.
Before that, he was also the first African American to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Ron Brown sadly died in a plane crash in Croatia along with 34 other people.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ron Brown was born in Washington, D.C.. He grew up in Harlem, New York, in a family that was not rich but had enough. He was part of a group called Jack and Jill of America, which helps African-American children and families.
He went to Hunter College Elementary School and Rhodes Preparatory School. His father managed the Theresa Hotel in Harlem, where Ron and his family lived. When he was a child, Ron Brown appeared in an advertisement for Pepsi-Cola. This was one of the first ads made for the African-American community.
Military Service and Law Career
While attending Middlebury College, Ron Brown became the first African-American member of a college group called Sigma Phi Epsilon. After graduating in 1962, he joined the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served in Germany, California, and briefly in Korea.
He left the Army in 1967 as a Captain. After his military service, Brown joined the National Urban League. This group works to help people achieve economic equality in the United States. While working, he also studied law at St. John's University School of Law and earned his law degree in 1970.
Rising in the Democratic Party
By 1976, Ron Brown had a high position at the National Urban League, helping with programs and government affairs. In 1979, he left to work for Senator Ted Kennedy's campaign when Kennedy was trying to become president.
In 1981, Brown started working as a lawyer and lobbyist for a law firm in Washington, D.C., called Patton Boggs. A lobbyist tries to influence government decisions on behalf of a group or person.
In 1988, Jesse Jackson chose Ron Brown to lead his team at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Brown quickly became a key person in Jackson's presidential campaign.
Leading the Democratic National Committee
In 1982, Ron Brown was named deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC is the main organization for the Democratic Party.
On February 10, 1989, Ron Brown was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. This was a very important moment because he was the first African American to lead a major U.S. political party. He played a big part in the successful 1992 Democratic National Convention. He also helped Bill Clinton win the presidential election in 1992.
Secretary of Commerce Role
After Bill Clinton became president, he chose Ron Brown to be the United States Secretary of Commerce in 1993. As Secretary of Commerce, Brown's main goal was to help the American economy grow. He worked hard to achieve this.
He led groups of business people and investors on trade missions to many countries. These trips aimed to create new business opportunities for the United States. He visited places like South Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China, India, and many others. He was on one of these important trade missions to Croatia when the plane he was on crashed.
Tragic Death
On April 3, 1996, Ron Brown was on an official trade mission. The U.S. Air Force plane he was on, a CT-43, crashed into a mountainside. This happened as the plane was trying to land near Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia.
All 35 people on board, including Ron Brown, died in the crash. The Air Force said the crash was due to pilot error and a difficult landing approach. Ron Brown was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, a special place where many American heroes are laid to rest.
Honors and Lasting Legacy
Ron Brown is remembered for his important contributions to American politics and business. On April 5, 1996, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton planted a tree in his memory.
In 2001, President Bill Clinton honored Ron Brown with the Presidential Citizens Medal. This is a high award given to American citizens for their service. Ron Brown's wife, Alma Brown, accepted the award for him.
President Clinton also created the Ron Brown Award for companies that show great leadership and responsibility. The United States Department of Commerce also gives out the annual Ronald H. Brown American Innovator Award in his honor.
Many schools and programs have been named after Ron Brown to remember him:
- St. John's University School of Law has the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development.
- Middlebury College offers the Ronald H. Brown fellowship for students.
- The Ron Brown Scholar Program helps young African Americans with scholarships and leadership experiences.
There is also a memorial room in the Ronald Brown memorial house in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where the crash happened. It has pictures of those who died and a guest book.
The largest ship in the NOAA fleet, the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, was named in his honor. A section of 14th Street in Washington, D.C., was renamed Ron Brown Way in 2011. Also in 2011, the new United States Mission to the United Nations building in New York City was named after him.
In 1997, a middle school in Washington, D.C., was renamed Ronald H. Brown Middle School. Later, in 2016, the building became Ronald Brown College Preparatory High School.
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