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George T. Brown ’58

George T. Brown was born July 21, 1938 in Lebanon, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky from 1956-1959, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Brown left UK to begin working as a credit manager in training for the Sears Roebuck company.

In 1962, Brown went to work for a general construction company in Louisville, Kentucky and set up a cost management accounting system for his employer. In 1964, he began working for a certified public accounting firm and in 1966, Brown started his own independent accounting firm and tax preparation
service.

Brown’s accounting firm opened the door for him to focus on other opportunities. In 1969, he developed Woodson Bend Resort condominium community on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. And in 1972, he opened an elegant dinner theater and nightclub in Louisville. Brown also successfully obtained the first U.S. government Title X loan to build a Planned Urban Development (PUD). This loan resulted in him also building over 1000 apartment units. Additionally, he developed over 500 residential lots for single-family homes. The success of these activities caused Brown to sell his accounting firm in 1974.

In 1979, Brown started a boat brokerage business, known as Island Traders, establishing a floating office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1982, in the wake of the break-up of AT&T, Brown established a telecommunications company called TMC, which within 24 months was generating revenues of almost $1 billion. TMC was AT&T’s second largest customer, right behind the U.S. government. Brown put his telecommunications “gold mine” up for sale, concluding same in December 1986. Brother Brown went to Siberian Russia and put together a joint venture and built an international telephone company, DAL. There he helped oversee the set-up of a large dish and complete telephone system, a partnership with three local companies, their wires to his dish to satellite to Hawaii and off to the world, thus opening up Russia.

All in all, Brown has built from the ground up and then operated more than fifteen new and successful businesses. Each was eventually sold for a substantial profit. In addition to his business accomplishments, Brown has also made many community contributions. He has worked closely with the U.S. Jaycees, volunteering as its treasurer at the national convention in 1967 as well as serving as treasurer of the local Jaycee chapter in Louisville. In 1968, Brown was listed in the U.S. Jaycees’ “Outstanding Young Men in America.”

In 1970, Brown was invited, along with a hundred other young executives to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the group formed the Young Presidents Club. In 2005, Brown became the first 1956 graduate of Dupont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, to be inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Brown’s most important accomplishment are his five children-Anthony,

Michael, Catherine, George, Jr. and Brooke. “By far the lifelong relationships that were created because I became a Kappa Sig brother… the fellows I met as a Kappa Sig in the 50’s are still close friends of mine today. It happened because of our time there. The relationships and friendships you develop become more special over time.”