Thomas A. Brown

1956 - 2017

Thomas A. Brown, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I.

Scottsville - A visitation for Tommy Brown, M.D., 61, of Scottsville, Texas, will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2018, from 4-8 pm at Osborn Funeral Home at 3631 Southern Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana. Funeral services and a celebration of life will be held at 10 am Thursday, January 4, 2018 at First Methodist Church, Head of Texas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. Dr. Pat Day will be officiating with assistance by Rev. Richard "Mike" Stowell and Rev. Jimmy Price.

Dr. Brown was born February 14, 1956, and peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 29, 2017, with his dear family at his side, after a brief but valiant battle with heart disease.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Talmadge "Tad" and Marjorie "Pug" Brown and his oldest sister, Edna Dell Duggan.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Craig Brown of Shreveport, LA, his daughter Kimberly Luminais and husband Keith of Mandeville, LA, the mother of his children and close friend, Diane Peppers Brown of Covington, LA, his sweet granddaughters, Claire and Ainsley Luminais, and his loving sisters, Linda Tibbett of Leesville, LA, and Cheryl Patrick and husband Bobby of Converse, LA. He is also survived by his nieces and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jon Black, Denny Brauer, Mike Echols, Ralph Yelverton, Dr. Corky Davis, Dr. Rusty Fileccia, Dr. Jimmy Smith, and Dr. Scott Wiggins.

Honorary pallbearers will be his colleagues and partners at Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists.

Tommy's life journey began with his birth in Seminole, Oklahoma. He and his family soon moved back home to Converse, Louisiana, where his love for the outdoors began. He was a home town favorite son who everyone could relate to. Tommy was an honors high school student at Converse High School, where he excelled in sports and knew early on, after some life-altering experiences, that he was destined to become a physician.

Dr. Brown's distinguished medical career spanned a remarkable 35 years of care and devotion to the people of the Ark-La-Tex. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from LSU, Shreveport (Mr. LSUS 1977 and LSUS Student of the Decade), he was accepted into the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport where he was recognized by induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Four years later, Dr. Brown graduated with honors and was immediately accepted into his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine. Following 3 grueling years as a medicine house officer, he entered into Cardiology Fellowship training at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. During this period of intensive training to become a heart specialist, he managed to give back to his community by helping to staff the DeSoto General Hospital ER on his rare weekends off. His tireless work ethic and warm bedside manner earned him respect from patients, families, and colleagues alike. Tommy was a rare breed of small town country boy, skillful hands, and sharp intellect who was filled with compassion towards his fellow man. He had a killer smile that melted hearts and soothed fears.

In the summer of 1987, following training and receiving triple board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Interventional Cardiology, Dr. Brown began his 30 year cardiology career practicing both in Shreveport/Bossier and Mansfield. His devotion to his small town roots, garnered him the honor of Louisiana Rural Practitioner of the year (2005). He was welcomed into a host of professional societies including AOA Honor Medical Society, American Medical Association, American Heart Association, American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology, The Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions, Shreveport Medical Society, and The Louisiana State Medical Society. During his career, he was privileged to serve as Chief of Cardiology for HCA Highland Hospital, Director of Catheterization Lab for HCA Highland Hospital (now Christus), and serve as managing partner of Ark-La-Tex Cardiology.

A bit of misfortune, or good luck, would change the landscape of cardiology in Shreveport forever when the three man group Tommy joined suddenly dissolved, leaving him on his own in solo practice. It was at that time in 1991 that he formed Ark-La-Tex Cardiology; "first in the phone book" he would always slyly say. Literally on call 24-7 and desperate for help, he recruited a friend. Paul "Corky" Davis was finishing up his Fellowship and began taking call to help Tommy. Their relationship blossomed and the rest is history. Tommy, the founder, and Corky, the first lieutenant, became partners of what would eventually become in 2017, a merger of two practices into one 16 man super group, Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists (ACS). Dr. Brown's vision of a comprehensive, independent, full-service cardiology practice resulted from selfless compromise to bring everyone to the table and recruit the best talent, even if they might be viewed as competitors, "well if I fish and hunt with Bill Haynie, might as well practice with him". Tommy's mentoring of the practice has ensured that the mission of providing uncompromising patient care with respect and dignity will continue. He realized the importance of the sacred doctor-patient bond. This will be his legacy as ACS carries on into the future. He has left the practice in good hands thanks to the recruitment of new and talented young cardiologists. Young partners who will no doubt be amazed by the volume of patients Tommy cared for and the number of "Tommy Brown saved my life!" accolades.

When not at the hospital, he could be found at his utopia, Heartland 10/10 Ranch in Texas. Began as a weekend getaway for his family, this 2,000 acre ranch, that he managed with his son, Craig, is home to many 10 pound bass and 10 point bucks. He created Heartland 10/10 Ranch for people from all over to experience the opportunity to hunt trophy bucks and fish for trophy bass. This will be as much of his legacy as his contribution to Shreveport's medical community.

Tommy Brown was a man who could be defined in so many ways: son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, child of God, cardiologist, founder, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian, orator, diplomat, visionary, storyteller, friend, colleague, partner, mentor, saver of life, sportsman, conservationist, outdoor enthusiast, connoisseur of fried chicken, proud country boy, among others not suitable for print. The family will remember him as being larger than life. He impacted his family in numerous ways: from teaching his children how to cast a rod in the front yard to imparting the importance of working hard for what you want. He gave all he had and loved his family fiercely. The partners would like to think that Tommy's greatest gift was what he gave his patients; a calming reassurance that their doctor truly cared for them as he sat on the end of the hospital bed and did what no x-ray, scan, or lab could ever do. We will miss you, Tommy.

A memorial will be held at a later date at Fellowship Baptist Church in Oak Grove Community, Converse, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Tommy's name to: Dream Hunt Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Shriners Hospitals for Children of Shreveport, LA, or The American Heart Association.