Richard Arnold Brown

RICHARD ARNOLD BROWN, SR. (DICK) was born May 30, 1947 in Provident Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, as the youngest of seven children born to William H. Brown Jr. and the late Mary Beatrice Brown Griffin. Richard was the baby and was always treated as such. Dick was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. The family attended Union Baptist Church in the 1940s. Dick graduated from Carver High School in 1966 and from Morgan State College in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography. He was an active member of the National Geographic Honor Society, a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship and the ROTC band. In 1967, Dick, along with the Morgan State golf team, won a CIAA Championship; this was the only time Morgan State has ever won this distinction. Dick received a Masters of Education, Counseling and Corrections from Coppin State College in 1974. He married Karen M. Griner in 1968. Out of this union are two sons, Richard Arnold Brown Jr. (Ricko) and Everett Heath Ragnar Brown (Ragnar). That marriage ended in divorce. In 1991, Richard married Sharon Haskins, also known as Shirney and Whitney, and from that union is a son, Richard Arnold Brown (Biggie). Dick and Sharon shared a loving relationship for over 14 years; they enjoyed attending church and family functions together. Dick loved being active with youth in many capacities and worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice for 33 years. He served his community as an amateur softball, football, and wrestling referee. While working as a probation officer, he started the "Write to Live Program" mentoring juvenile offenders in writing skills for 30 years. Dick retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice in 2000. In October 2004, Dick Brown was inducted into the Morgan State Athletic Hall of Fame for golf. And in February 2006, he received the Governor's Citation Living Legend Award for Black History Month. Dick will be remembered as a great debater with family and friends. He never wanted to hear what you had to say. He had a store-house of information both relevant and irrelevant. Dick was always available for family and friends. He had a great love for pork and beer. His style of dress was unique; he was always in a bow tie and wearing glasses. He stayed on the cutting edge of style. Dick loved shorts, and black and white shoes. He wore the same black and white shoes since high school; he had worn them for so long that the cobbler recently would not give them back to him. Dick had a knack for making you laugh; he thought he was upfront and always telling the truth. His motto was "I cannot tell a lie". Dick enjoyed watching all sports. He also had a fondness for "The Young and the Restless", "Leave It To Beaver", "The Brady Bunch", "The Munster's" and "Sanford and Son". Dick was a motorcyclist; he rode his bike in all weather -- rain, hail, sleet or snow. After a very brief illness, Dick slept away to his eternal rest on Monday, May 15, 2006. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Sharon Haskins Brown; his devoted sons, Richard Arnold Brown Jr. (Ricko), Everett Heath Ragnar Brown, Richard Arnold Brown (Biggie); loving grandchildren, Rashard, Savannah, and Amir; his father, William H. Brown Jr.; loving brothers and sisters, William H. Brown III, Patricia H. Brown, Kathleen L. Parham, Dr. Llaila Afrika (Harris), Terry Brown, Donia Brown and Utisha Brown. Proceeded in death: his mother, Mary Beatrice Griffin; three sisters, Paula A. Bailey, Carolyn Brown Young and April Brown and a brother, Cecil Brown. Dick also leaves his aunt, Evangeline Dawson; two brothers-in-law, Joseph Haskins, Jr. and Gregory Haskins; four sisters-in-law, Evon Jackson, Barbara Bolden, Patricia Haskins, and Kim Meyers; and God-daughter, Precious Hall. Dick also leaves to cherish his memory a deep brotherly friendship for almost 50 years with Al Wilson (Frog). Dick also leaves a host of family and friends.

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Richard Arnold Brown

May 30, 1947 - May 15, 2006