Randolph Alexander Brown

BROWN, RANDOLPH ALEXANDER, the son of Willie Barret Brown and Reverend Connor Brown, died Friday, December 18, 2009.

He is survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Prewitt Dabney; four daughters, Barret Sawyer (Charles Horner Sawyer) of Cambridge, MA, Mary Kent Brown of Chicago, IL, Alexandra Brown (Paul McCafferty) of Somerville, MA and Olivia Brown McCleary (Christopher McCleary), of Severna Park, MD; and a grandson, Manton Alexander Paine.

He was born in Louisville, attended the Louisville Male High School and the college and the law school of the University of Virginia.

He was elected to the 1940 session of the Kentucky Legislature and in January 1941 was appointed Assistant United States Attorney. In May 1941 he entered active duty in the Army Air Corps and served as an intelligence officer in the First Fighter Group and the Forty Second Wing in California, England, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and France before returning in October 1945 as a lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Returning to Louisville, he practiced law as a partner in Brown and Dudley; Brown, Ardery, Todd and Dudley; and Brown, Todd and Heyburn.

He was formerly president of the Louisville Bar Association and a member of the American College of Wills, Estates and Trusts Counsel, The Kentucky Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

He was a former trustee of the Louisville Free Public Library and was president of the American Council of Urban Library Trustees.

He was a former head of the Kentucky branch of the English Speaking Union, and of the Louisville committee of the Council on Foreign Relations.

He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, the Tavern Club, the Sons of Colonial Wars, the Law Club, the Speakeasy, the Louisville Country Club and the River Valley Club.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Monday at Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Road, with private burial. Arrangements are by Pearson's.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Louisville Free Public Library Foundation , 301 York St. Louisville, KY 40203, The University of Virginia , P.O. Box 400314 Charlottesville, VA 22904, or a favorite charity.