Owsley Brown Frazier
Encyclopedia
Owsley Brown Frazier is a philanthropist
from Louisville, Kentucky
USA who founded the Frazier International History Museum
. He is retired from the board of directors of the Brown-Forman corporation, which his grandfather George Garvin Brown founded in 1870, and is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. He was raised in Louisville.
he became the company's lawyer in 1960, then joined the board of directors and became director of personnel in 1964.
Frazier owns Bittners, LLC a 150 year old interior design, architectural & furniture business in Louisville.
He has served as director of Greater Louisville Inc.
and the Kentucky Economic Development Corporation. He was an early co-chairman of the board to study building the Louisville waterfront arena
. He has also served on the board of Louisville-based Papa John's Pizza
.
In 2004, it was estimated that he had given over $500 million to charity throughout his life.
and given to him by his grandfather. This rifle was permanently lost in the 1974 Super Outbreak
tornado which hit Louisville, and Frazier credits the event with sparking his interest in collecting historic weapons on a larger scale. His collection included weapons such as Theodore Roosevelt
's "Big Stick", a 1866 Winchester carbine owned by Buffalo Bill Cody and guns used by General George Armstrong Custer
. Most of the weapons were from 1840 to 1910.
In 2000, the Kentucky Historical Society asked him to present his collection in Frankfort, Kentucky
. Thousands of people attended the exhibit, surprising Frazier and leading him to think about doing a long-term exhibition. In 2001, he purchased two former warehouses in Downtown Louisville
and announced plans to open a museum, initially called the Frazier Historical Arms Museum but later renamed the Frazier International History Museum
once the Royal Armouries
of Britain chose to display part of their collection at the Frazier. The museum dropped the international from it's name and is now known as the Frazier History Museum on March of 2011, while the Royal Armouries Collection is still on display, the museum's collection will begin to reflect local Kentucky history, and de-emphasize the weapons collection. Shortly after this a world-class travelling exhibit, Da Vinci- The Genius went on display.
Mr. Frazier donated most of the $32 million in startup funds for the museum. Mr. Frazier's mission statement for the museum is "To evoke a passion for the knowledge and understanding of history, so that all who pass through our doors may learn from the past, live in the present and better prepare for the future."
and Republicans such as George W. Bush
. A fundraiser at his house in 1999 for Bush set the record for most money raised for a primary candidate in Kentucky, collecting over $650,000.
From 2000 to 2004, he donated over $89,000 to political campaigns - nearly all of them Republican.
and Bellarmine University
. He won the Louisville Urban League’s Equality Award in 1990. In 2002 he was given the Founders Award, a lifetime achievement award and the highest honor given by the Louisville Historical League.
. He also owns a 400 acres (1.6 km²) farm in Shelby County, Kentucky
. His only marriage ended in a divorce, and he has three daughters.
When asked what it is like to use a wheelchair, Frazier responds, "You know, my brain is not in a wheelchair. It’s just my body. Basically what I have is bone spurs, both within and outside my spinal column. I’m fairly much paralyzed from basically my waist down. With a mobile wheelchair like this, I can get out and move around really pretty well. The last thing in the world that I wanted to do was to stay at home, sit around and do nothing."
Frazier is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the River Valley Club. He is a member of the first graduating class of Louisville Country Day, which is the merged male parent school to the current Kentucky Country Day School
and received a law degree from the University of Louisville
.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
USA who founded the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
. He is retired from the board of directors of the Brown-Forman corporation, which his grandfather George Garvin Brown founded in 1870, and is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. He was raised in Louisville.
Business career
Frazier was Vice-Chairman and the public face of Brown-Forman from 1983 until his retirement in 2000, but he remained on the board of directors. He first worked for the company as a trainee in 1955. After graduating from the University of LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
he became the company's lawyer in 1960, then joined the board of directors and became director of personnel in 1964.
Frazier owns Bittners, LLC a 150 year old interior design, architectural & furniture business in Louisville.
He has served as director of Greater Louisville Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc. is an organization the promotes the growth of businesses in Louisville, Kentucky. It began as the Louisville Area Development Association , established in 1943 by mayor Wilson Wyatt. By 1950 LADA had absorbed the Board of Trade , the Retail Merchants Association and the...
and the Kentucky Economic Development Corporation. He was an early co-chairman of the board to study building the Louisville waterfront arena
Louisville waterfront arena
The KFC Yum! Center is a US $238 million, 22,000-seat basketball and multipurpose arena that opened on October 10, 2010, on the Ohio River waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on Main Street between Second and Third Streets. The project is part of a $450 million project that includes...
. He has also served on the board of Louisville-based Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza is the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States, behind Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza. It is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Papa John's slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better pizza. Papa John's"...
.
Philanthropy
Frazier is recognized as one of the leading individual donors to Bellarmine University, Kentucky Country Day and the University of Louisville, of which he is a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees. He is a leading donor to Jewish Hospital in Louisville, including the Frazier Rehab Institute, which is named after his mother.In 2004, it was estimated that he had given over $500 million to charity throughout his life.
Weapon collection and museum
For much of his life, Frazier collected historic guns and knives. His collection began with a long rifle, made circa 1820 in Bardstown, KentuckyBardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
and given to him by his grandfather. This rifle was permanently lost in the 1974 Super Outbreak
Super Outbreak
The Super Outbreak is the second largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, just behind the tornado outbreak of April 25–28, 2011...
tornado which hit Louisville, and Frazier credits the event with sparking his interest in collecting historic weapons on a larger scale. His collection included weapons such as Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's "Big Stick", a 1866 Winchester carbine owned by Buffalo Bill Cody and guns used by General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
. Most of the weapons were from 1840 to 1910.
In 2000, the Kentucky Historical Society asked him to present his collection in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
. Thousands of people attended the exhibit, surprising Frazier and leading him to think about doing a long-term exhibition. In 2001, he purchased two former warehouses in Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
and announced plans to open a museum, initially called the Frazier Historical Arms Museum but later renamed the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
once the Royal Armouries
Royal Armouries
The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom's National Museum of Arms and Armour. It is the United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world, comprising the UK's National Collection of Arms and...
of Britain chose to display part of their collection at the Frazier. The museum dropped the international from it's name and is now known as the Frazier History Museum on March of 2011, while the Royal Armouries Collection is still on display, the museum's collection will begin to reflect local Kentucky history, and de-emphasize the weapons collection. Shortly after this a world-class travelling exhibit, Da Vinci- The Genius went on display.
Mr. Frazier donated most of the $32 million in startup funds for the museum. Mr. Frazier's mission statement for the museum is "To evoke a passion for the knowledge and understanding of history, so that all who pass through our doors may learn from the past, live in the present and better prepare for the future."
Gun dealer trial
In late 2007, a gun dealer and his wife went on trial in U.S. District Court on charges of defrauding Frazier by overcharging him for historic weapons. A third defendant, a gun expert, was charged with causing Frazier to file false tax returns by overestimating the value of weapons he was donating to the museum. The prosecution argued the dealer bilked Frazier and the museum out of $1.75 million through kickbacks and phony surcharges on gun sales, and that his wife "schmoozed" Frazier and discouraged him from talking to other experts who might tell him he was being defrauded. The defense argued Frazier was aware the dealer was profiting from the sales. The three defendants were acquitted of most charges, but the dealer was found guilty of failing to file a tax return.Political fundraising
Frazier has donated money and organized fundraisers for both Democrats such as Kentucky Governor Paul E. PattonPaul E. Patton
Paul Edward Patton was the 59th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1995 to 2003. Because of a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, he was the first governor eligible to succeed himself in office since James Garrard in 1800...
and Republicans such as George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. A fundraiser at his house in 1999 for Bush set the record for most money raised for a primary candidate in Kentucky, collecting over $650,000.
From 2000 to 2004, he donated over $89,000 to political campaigns - nearly all of them Republican.
Awards
Frazier holds honorary doctorates from the University of LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
and Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University is an independent, private, Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. The liberal arts institution opened on October 3, 1950, as Bellarmine College, established by Archbishop John A. Floersh of the Archdiocese of Louisville and named after the Cardinal Saint Robert...
. He won the Louisville Urban League’s Equality Award in 1990. In 2002 he was given the Founders Award, a lifetime achievement award and the highest honor given by the Louisville Historical League.
Personal
Frazier lives in a house built by his grandfather in 1910 called "The Avish" in the suburban city of Harrods Creek, KentuckyHarrods Creek, Kentucky
Harrods Creek is a neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky centered near Harrods Creek at the intersection of River Road and Wolf Pen Branch Road. It is roughly bordered by the Ohio River to the west and US 42 to the east. Its Zip Code is 40027...
. He also owns a 400 acres (1.6 km²) farm in Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 42,074. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville...
. His only marriage ended in a divorce, and he has three daughters.
When asked what it is like to use a wheelchair, Frazier responds, "You know, my brain is not in a wheelchair. It’s just my body. Basically what I have is bone spurs, both within and outside my spinal column. I’m fairly much paralyzed from basically my waist down. With a mobile wheelchair like this, I can get out and move around really pretty well. The last thing in the world that I wanted to do was to stay at home, sit around and do nothing."
Frazier is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the River Valley Club. He is a member of the first graduating class of Louisville Country Day, which is the merged male parent school to the current Kentucky Country Day School
Kentucky Country Day School
Kentucky Country Day is an independent co-educational college preparatory day school for junior kindergarten through 12th grade located in Louisville, Kentucky. It is located in northeastern Jefferson County on a large suburban campus. Today KCD is recognized as a regional leader in educational...
and received a law degree from the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.