Raleigh Brown
Encyclopedia
Raleigh Holden Brown was a Democratic
member of the Texas House of Representatives
from 1963–1967, who later became a state judge
.
Brown was born in Shreveport
in northwestern Louisiana
, and reared in Murfreesboro
, Tennessee
. Brown graduated from law school at Southern Methodist University
in Dallas
, Texas
. He lived most of his life, however, in Abilene
, Texas.
Brown served two two-year terms in the Texas House, having been elected in both 1962 and 1964. In 1967, Governor
John B. Connally, Jr., appointed him as judge of the 42nd Judicial District. He was elected to a four-year term in 1968. In 1972, he was elected justice to the Texas 11th Court of Appeals in Eastland
, east of Abilene, where he remained until retirement in 1986. He then became presiding judge of the 7th Administrative District.
Brown was called into the United States Army
while he was working on his undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University
in Murfreesboro. He served four years during World War II
. In 1944, he came to Abilene when stationed at the former Camp Barkeley
. As a reservist, and while working toward his law degree, Brown was subsequently called to serve for nineteen months in the Korean War
. He met his wife, Margaret, while he was stationed at Camp Barkeley. The two were married for fifty-nine years until her death in 2007.
Brown was a former president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce
, the Abilene and the Texas State Exchange clubs, the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, and the Abilene Country Club
. He was also involved in Goodfellows, Young Men's Christian Association, the City-County Child Welfare Board, Texas Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, the Abilene Health Foundation, and the Development Corporation Board. He was a board member of the Bank of Commerce and held longtime affiliation with the Texas Bar Association.
Brown died of a heart attack
at the age of eighty-seven. Memorial services were held at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene, where Brown was an active member and the former chairman of the administration board. Brown was survived by three daughters, Nancy B. Jennings and husband, Boo, Betsy B. Skorburg and spouse, Dick, and Julie B. Denny and husband, Mike; several grandchildren, and a sister, Bettye B. Smartt of Chattanooga
, Tennessee.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from 1963–1967, who later became a state judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
Brown was born in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
in northwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and reared in Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Brown graduated from law school at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He lived most of his life, however, in Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Texas.
Brown served two two-year terms in the Texas House, having been elected in both 1962 and 1964. In 1967, Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
John B. Connally, Jr., appointed him as judge of the 42nd Judicial District. He was elected to a four-year term in 1968. In 1972, he was elected justice to the Texas 11th Court of Appeals in Eastland
Eastland, Texas
Eastland is a city in Eastland County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,769 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Eastland County.During the 1920s, Eastland, like nearby Cisco, Ranger, and Desdemona, were petroleum boomtowns....
, east of Abilene, where he remained until retirement in 1986. He then became presiding judge of the 7th Administrative District.
Brown was called into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
while he was working on his undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
in Murfreesboro. He served four years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1944, he came to Abilene when stationed at the former Camp Barkeley
Camp Barkeley
Camp Barkeley was a large United States Army training installation during World War II. The base was located eleven miles southwest of Abilene, Texas near what is now Dyess Air Force Base. The base was named after David B. Barkley, a Medal of Honor recipient during World War I...
. As a reservist, and while working toward his law degree, Brown was subsequently called to serve for nineteen months in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He met his wife, Margaret, while he was stationed at Camp Barkeley. The two were married for fifty-nine years until her death in 2007.
Brown was a former president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the Abilene and the Texas State Exchange clubs, the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, and the Abilene Country Club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
. He was also involved in Goodfellows, Young Men's Christian Association, the City-County Child Welfare Board, Texas Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, the Abilene Health Foundation, and the Development Corporation Board. He was a board member of the Bank of Commerce and held longtime affiliation with the Texas Bar Association.
Brown died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of eighty-seven. Memorial services were held at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene, where Brown was an active member and the former chairman of the administration board. Brown was survived by three daughters, Nancy B. Jennings and husband, Boo, Betsy B. Skorburg and spouse, Dick, and Julie B. Denny and husband, Mike; several grandchildren, and a sister, Bettye B. Smartt of Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, Tennessee.