[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16897]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES EDISON BROWN

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2000

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
wonderful man, Dr. James Edison Brown. Dr. Brown was a terrific 
physician and a loving family man. I have had the privilege of working 
with his daughter Trinita on transportation issues in the House of 
Representatives, and I can attest that this apple has not fallen far 
from the tree. Dr. Brown's list of accomplishments is endless. However, 
contributions to his community and his triumph over the barriers of a 
society which tried to limit him are what impress me most. It is with 
honor and sadness that I pay tribute to Dr. James Edison Brown.
  I submit the following passage for the Record:

       Dr. James Edison Brown, the first black Ophthalmologist 
     trained in the state of New Jersey, died Friday June 30, 
     after a short illness.
       Born in Camden, South Carolina, the youngest son of the 
     late Willie Carlos and Mamie Ballard Brown, he graduated as 
     the valedictorian of Jackson High School at age 15 and made 
     his way from the segregated South to New York City with less 
     than $20 in his pocket.
       Brown hoped things would be better in the North. While he 
     worked to convince the best universities in New York City to 
     admit him, he took a variety of jobs in an effort to save 
     money for college. One of his jobs was as a waiter at one of 
     the elite men's clubs at the time. Amid the laughter and 
     ridicule of his fellow wait staff, Brown persevered.
       In 1951, Uncle Sam called and Brown served honorably in the 
     Intelligence Division of the United States Army in Europe. 
     When he returned from Europe, he entered and graduated from 
     New York University with a degree in Biology in 1956. Later 
     that summer he married Theresa Hundley of New York City.
       Undaunted, Brown faced continuing resistance to his efforts 
     to gain admission at the nation's top medical schools. Brown 
     returned to Europe to pursue his medical education. He 
     attended the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Paris, 
     France, the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and the 
     University of Vienna, Austria. While abroad, he was able to 
     complete his Master's Degree in Biochemistry from Columbia 
     University in New York City.
       Upon his return, Brown decided to enter medical school at 
     Howard University in Washington, DC to pursue his dream of 
     becoming an orthopedic surgeon. In his third year of medical 
     school, Brown suffered a near fatal car accident, spent eight 
     months in the hospital and lost a year of medical school. 
     This event changed his career in two ways. First, because of 
     his injuries to his leg, he would not be able to stand for 
     the long hours that orthopedic surgery often demands. 
     Secondly, because of the skills of the eye surgeon who 
     treated him during the accident, he decided to become an 
     ophthalmologist. Brown graduated from medical school in 1964.
       Dr. Brown returned to the New York metropolitan area with 
     his young family. After his internship in Staten Island, he 
     was admitted to the residency program in Ophthalmology at the 
     New Jersey College of Medicine. In 1970, Dr. Brown completed 
     the program as Chief Resident to become the first black 
     Ophthalmologist trained in the state of New Jersey, where he 
     remained on the faculty until his passing.
       Dr. Brown maintained a practice in New York and New Jersey 
     for over 30 years. He was affiliated with many of the top 
     hospitals in the metropolitan area. For the next 30 years, 
     Dr. Brown distinguished himself and was honored by many 
     medical and scientific societies including becoming a Fellow 
     in the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow in the 
     International College of Surgeons. He is also listed in Who's 
     Who in America and Who's Who in Physicians and Surgeons among 
     others.
       His quiet determination and kind demeanor led Dr. Brown to 
     many leadership positions in various fraternal, civic and 
     social organizations including, the Lions Club, the H.M. Club 
     (Hundred Men Club of America), the Norjermen, Sigma Pi Phi 
     (The Boule) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, 
     where he was a member for almost 50 years.
       Dr. Brown cared deeply for his church and church family at 
     New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey. He was 
     able to share his medical skills in innovative ways. He was 
     active in the prison ministry and he helped establish the New 
     Hope Baptist Church Health Ministry. Under his leadership, 
     many church members became certified in CPR.
       Dr. Brown leaves to cherish his memory, Theresa Hundley 
     Brown, his wife of almost 44 years; his son Dr. Terrence 
     Edison Brown of Stockholm, Sweden; his daughter, Trinita Evon 
     Brown, Esq. of Washington, DC; his son-in-law, Peter Niel 
     Thomas of Washington, DC; his god-children: Jinene Foye, 
     Brandon Costner and Sheree Gaddy; his brothers, John Brown 
     and Leroy Brown; his sisters: Alice Brown Gadsen, Odell Brown 
     Crouch, Orlee Brown Gibbs, Alberta Brown, Janie Mae Brown; 
     sisters-in-laws Charlotte Brown and Ethel Brown; three aunts, 
     many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and 
     many family and friends.

     

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