Eugene D. Brown Obituary (2008) - Mission Hills, Kansas

On Wednesday, May 14, at 7:50 a.m., Eugene D. Brown, 80, died peacefully in his sleep at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is survived by his loving and adoring family, Saurine Lotman Brown, his wife of 58 years, Richard and Anna Brown, his son and daughter-in-law, Susan and Robert Thill, his daughter and son-in-law, his nieces and nephews, Jonathan Brown, Robert and Debbie Billow, Nancy Brown, Nancy Rosenthal and Robert and Jill Rosenthal, along with nine grand nieces and nephews. Eugene was expecting his first grandchild. Dr. Gretchen Steinaker, his niece, and Maurice Brown, his brother, preceded him in death. Eugene David Brown, son of Regina and Morton Brown, was born in Kansas City, graduated from Southwest High School and attended the University of Missouri, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Brown, returned to the University of Missouri, where he met the love of his life, Homecoming Queen and head cheerleader (not only for the University, but for the rest of his life), Saurine Lotman. Gene would say, “She outranked me so much that people knew me only as Saurine’s boy friend.” Gene married his popular sweetheart on New Year’s Eve, 1949 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Young Gene started out in Garden City, Kansas working with his brother, father and uncle in the oil business. Showing a lifelong trait for tenacity, he persevered through 18 dry wells before striking his first gusher. It was to be the first of many successes for the budding brilliant entrepreneur. Gene’s Kansas City legacy began in 1960 when he opened a small real estate office on Metcalf Avenue. The endearing Brown Bear logo would become a national treasure. With shear persistence and a trademark white Stetson hat, Brown’s business philosophy was borrowed from a Mark Twain quote: “When you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything.” Mr. Brown added an insurance company, a commercial division and a property management company. The brokerage would eventually be linked to the first national network of referring brokers, InterCom, founded by Eugene. ‘Brown Bear’ would build his fledgling firm into one of the Midwest’s premier independently owned real estate companies with more than 400 employees when he sold his business in 1998. Mr. Brown truly loved the land. He bought undeveloped investment property throughout the Kansas City area and developed it into offices, warehouses, apartments or saleable parcels. But he was also very environmentally conscientious, serving nine years on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the National Parks and Conservation Association in Washington, D.C. In addition, he was a lobbyist for The National Parks and Recreation Association, assuring the designation of land for permanent preservation and protection. Always impeccably dressed in a blue blazer, and known to joyfully burst into a serious rendition of “Old Man River”, Gene had a passion for life. He loved boating at the Lake of the Ozarks and the ocean waters of Palm Beach. An ardent horseman, he was always up for the hunt and playing Polo around the country. In later life, he enjoyed fly-fishing and proudly walking his little shih-tzu dog “Charity”. Mr. Brown’s many real estate honors and services include: President of the Missouri Real Estate Board; National Chairman of Young Realtors Group; Missouri Association of Realtors, Realtor of the Year; Metropolitan Kansas City Real Estate Board Realtor of the Year; Director, National Association of Realtors; and Outstanding Broker award from the Women’s Council of Realtors and Honorary Lifetime Member. Gene and Saurine were proudly committed to culture and the arts, as well as many civic associations and organizations that contributed to the community and to those in need. He served as Councilman for the City of Mission Hills, and in many other capacities, including: Agricultural Hall of Fame and National Center Booster Club; Shawnee Mission Medical Center Advisory Board; Member, the New Reform Temple and NRT Board; Society of Fellows of Nelson-Atkins Gallery of Art; Kansas City Philharmonic Board of Trustees; American Royal Association Board of Governors; Kansas City Art Institute Board of Trustees; Budget Committee, Menorah Medical Center; Program Committee Chairman, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Boys Club Board of Directors; and Director, YMCA Camp Saint Osage. Gene Brown was a funny guy! He had the uncanny ability to deliver a humorous anecdote or joke at just the right moment. His unique sense of style, charm and joy of life exemplify the Eugene Brown qualities we will always remember. A memorial celebration of Eugene D. Brown’s life will be held at The Carriage Club, 5301 State Line, Kansas City, MO 64112, on Monday, May 19, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. A reception will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Eugene D. and Saurine L. Brown Cancer Research Fund at M.D. Anderson, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, or the charity of your choice.