By Catherine PughSpecial to the AFRO
Herb Brown turned 100 years of age on Sept. 22 with the entire pomp and circumstance attributable to a centenarian of his caliber. The Baltimore enterprise large has been an lively member of the Ashburton neighborhood for 62 years.
Brown didn’t have a good time this milestone birthday alone.
At midday on Saturday, Sept. 21, greater than 125 of his family and friends gathered on the Baltimore Internal Harbor for a cruise on the water. The occasion was organized by his household and mates, who had been excited to honor Brown.
“I’ve had the pleasure and honor of seeing Herb for the final 60 of his 100 years,” mentioned Dan Henson. “It’s simple to think about your individual mortality if you take a look at Herb and see his youthfulness.”
Henson mentioned over time, he has taken notice of Brown’s capacity to age with grace and magnificence.
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“Three secrets and techniques to his longevity that I’ve observed: One, he stopped ingesting alcoholic drinks 50 years in the past and changed it with water–each Black bartender in Baltimore is aware of that. Two, he takes a nap each day and three, he will get dressed and does one thing each day that stimulates him bodily and intellectually. I’m not saying these are the secrets and techniques to attending to 100, however they work for Herb and for me up to now,” mentioned Henson.
Among the many many friends had been Maryland Chief Decide Robert Bell, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), State Sen. Jill Carter (D-Md.-41), State Del. Samuel “Sandy” Rosenberg (D-Md.-41), Theo Rodgers, co-founder and CEO of A&R Improvement, and Att. Kenneth L. Thompson.
“It’s uncommon,” mentioned Bell, “to have the ability to have a good time the one centesimal birthday of somebody with such immense significance to the event of our neighborhood and to have the ability to share it with so lots of his mentees– together with myself. This was actually particular.”
Carter echoed related sentiments. “We don’t typically get to share a centennial celebration with our residing heroes. It was an honor to see him smiling and to indicate him that his dedication and contributions are appreciated.”
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Brown was born in Winnsboro, S.C. He’s the youngest of three sons born to Lawrence and Willie Mae Brown. “He was about six months outdated when his household moved to Baltimore,” says his granddaughter, Erika Bessick, who stays near her grandfather to spend time with him each day.
Brown graduated from Douglass Excessive College and from there went into the Military. After two years, he was discharged honorably as a sergeant.
“That they had two strains, one in the event you wished to remain within the military and one other in the event you wished to go away,” says Bessick. “Grandfather selected the road to go away. He turned a salesman,” she tells the AFRO.
And Brown was fairly a salesman.
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He spent various years in gross sales, promoting the whole lot from mini blinds and flooring coverings to beer. In line with Bessick, Brown spent 12 years promoting Ballantine Beer till the corporate was acquired and his place was eradicated.
“Herb was a businessman, however greater than that, he’s an incredible human being. It was nice seeing one of many legends of the early days of Black entrepreneurship,” mentioned Lawyer Ken Thompson.
In 1968, Brown based the Mondawmin Journey Company. He was one in every of solely two Black companies on the time to be positioned within the West Baltimore mall. The one different Black owned enterprise on the time was the Pauline Brooks girls’s costume store, which had moved to Mondawmin from North Avenue in 1967.
Brown turned among the many energy brokers in Baltimore and an in depth buddy of the Late Willie Adams. Brown took a particular curiosity in Northwest Baltimore politics and was among the many founders of the Vanguard Group, which helped elect various Black politicians going again to Sen. Verda Welcome and Sen. Clarence Blount.
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Chuck Thompson, who turned 100 years outdated earlier this 12 months, additionally made his method to the cruise together with Angela Gibson. Thompson served as president of Vanguard whereas Brown was its long-time treasure.
“His position as a political energy dealer helped to construct Black energy in Northwest Baltimore and form insurance policies that elevated our neighborhood for generations,” mentioned Carter.
Theo Rodgers additionally weighed in on how Brown’s laborious work has impacted the town.
“Herb Brown has at all times been concerned behind the scenes in actions that improved Baltimore’s Black neighborhood in enterprise and politics. His optimistic perspective has been a motivation for me for over 50 years,” he mentioned.
Ultimately, Brown moved his workplace into his Ashburton dwelling, the place he continued to host the Vanguard Group after promoting his journey company.
At this time Brown spends most of his time along with his household.
“He loves having his grandchildren round, he likes the noise, and he enjoys watching them. On particular events like my sister’s child bathe, he’ll placed on his suede jacket and strut. He’s steadier on his ft then most individuals, even me,” mentioned Bessick.
Lenny Clay remembers Brown as a mentor to many younger Black enterprise folks. “He’s somebody we regarded as much as–such a quick dresser,” mentioned Clay, who’s been slicing hair in Baltimore for over 60 years.
“He’s up early each day and able to go. [He] will get dressed just a little extra informal than the times when he would stroll round in his sports activities coats and fits. Button down shirts [and] sweaters at the moment are the order of the day,” says Bessick.
Brown fathered three kids and solely his son, Kevin Brown, lives with him in his Ashburton dwelling at the moment.
Brown and his son Kevin sometimes spend time at C and C’s Lounge watching the soccer video games collectively.
“It’s a pleasure to be right here and trip this out with him,” mentioned his son. “He says he’s ‘going to 110.’ I snort and requested him is that every one you bought?’ I’m overwhelmed to see so many individuals supporting him and remembering his contributions.”
