[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14685-14686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF OWSLEY BROWN II

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
great friend of the city of Louisville, a giant in both business and 
philanthropy who made Kentucky products famous around the globe, and a 
man whom I was proud to call a friend for more than 30 years. It is 
with great sadness that I report to my Senate colleagues that Owsley 
Brown II of Louisville, KY, passed away September 26 at the age of 69. 
He will be mourned and missed by many, not only by his family and those 
fortunate enough to know him but also by the countless Louisvillians 
who did not get to meet the man personally but benefited from his 
numerous volunteer efforts and initiatives on behalf of our community.
  Owsley Brown II was born in 1942, the son of William Lee Lyons Brown 
and Sally Shallenberger Brown, who herself passed away just a few 
months ago at the age of 100, as I noted at the time on the Senate 
floor. After graduating from Yale University and Stanford University's 
Graduate School of Business, Owsley spent 37 years at Brown Forman, the 
company his great-grandfather founded, including 12 years as chief 
executive and 12 years as chairman. He started at Brown Forman in 1961 
as a summer employee.
  Owsley continued a family legacy that dates back to Brown Forman's

[[Page 14686]]

founding in 1870. Brown Forman is one of Louisville's most significant 
companies and a major corporate citizen of our community. It provides 
almost 1,200 local jobs and still makes whiskey in Jefferson County.
  As CEO, Owsley was a visionary in expanding the company's 
international footprint and modernizing the marketing of its brands. As 
a result, labels such as Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort are now 
recognized worldwide. Under his leadership, Brown Forman stock more 
than quadrupled in value.
  But to describe Owsley as merely a businessman, even a brilliant one, 
would be to just scrape the surface of the ice cube in a tall glass of 
Old Forester bourbon with water--Owsley's favorite drink. With his wife 
Christy, he did much to improve the quality and character of life in 
Louisville. He led organizations to support art and music, historic 
preservation and environmental protection. He was a leader in the 
founding of Actors Theatre of Louisville and a longtime board member. 
He served on the board of the Speed Art Museum and was active in the 
Fund for the Arts and River Fields. His family's Owsley Brown 
Charitable Foundation, of which he was president, gave millions of 
dollars to local churches and community groups.
  Owsley did a lot more than just write checks. He was passionately 
involved in everything he took part in. As the Actors Theatre board 
president, he was often seen cleaning the windows or moving props. His 
deep knowledge of art came in handy on visits to art fairs on behalf of 
the Speed Art Museum. He could inspire others to donate more of their 
time, efforts, and resources on behalf of the causes he cared so deeply 
about just by setting the example.
  I first met Owsley more than 30 years ago and saw then that he 
represented the very best Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky 
have to offer. Elaine and I send our deepest condolences to his family, 
including his wife Christy, his three children: Owsley III, Brooke 
Barzun, and Augusta Holland, and his many other beloved family members 
and friends.
  Madam President, the Louisville Courier-Journal published recently an 
obituary of Owsley Brown II that only begins to describe a full life 
well lived. I ask unanimous consent that the full article be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Courier-Journal, Sept. 29, 2011]

                            Brown, Owsley II

       Brown, Owsley II, 69, died September 26, 2011, in 
     Louisville with his family by his side.
       Mr. Brown was born September 10, 1942, the son of William 
     Lee Lyons Brown and Sara ``Sally'' Shallenberger. He was a 
     graduate of Woodberry Forest School, Yale University, where 
     he received his B.A. in history in 1964, and Stanford 
     University's Graduate School of Business.
       The great-grandson of Brown-Forman Corporation founder 
     George Garvin Brown, Owsley spent 37 years of his 
     professional life with the company, starting as a summer 
     employee in 1961. He became president in 1983, chief 
     executive officer from 1993-2005 and chairman from 1995 until 
     2007. While at the helm of the company, he led efforts to 
     dramatically expand its international presence and 
     significantly modernized its marketing efforts. The strategy 
     worked exceptionally well, as brands such as Jack Daniel's, 
     Southern Comfort and Finlandia became internationally 
     recognized names, producing stellar financial returns.
       He served as an Army intelligence officer at the Pentagon 
     from 1966-1968 and in 2010 was appointed by the Obama 
     Administration to serve on the U.S. Department of Defense 
     Business Board. In addition to his service on the Brown-
     Forman board, Owsley served on the board of NACCO Industries, 
     Inc.
       Owsley was a leader in the founding of Actors Theatre of 
     Louisville and a longtime board member, twice serving as 
     president during major fund drives as it built its 
     facilities. He served on the boards of the Speed Art Museum, 
     where he most recently headed up the Capital Campaign and 
     Building Committee for its expansion; Fund for the Arts (as 
     chairman and president); Kentucky Center for the Performing 
     Arts; and Partnership for Creative Economies. Previous boards 
     he served on include River Fields, the Advisory Council of 
     the Yale School of Forestry and Environment and the National 
     Council of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He 
     also served on the International Council of Trustees for the 
     World Conference of Religions for Peace. He was a former 
     director of the Louisville Gas and Electric Company and its 
     successor LG&E.
       He received the Governor's Milner Award, Kentucky's highest 
     award for contributions to the culture of his state, and this 
     year received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate 
     Citizenship. Also this year he and his wife Christy received 
     the Greater Louisville Inc.'s Gold Cup Award for 
     distinguished service to Louisville. He earned the J. Russell 
     Groves Citizens Laureate Award, honoring individuals who 
     consistently encourage quality architecture in their 
     communities. His lifetime interest in historic preservation 
     was demonstrated in many projects, including the restoration 
     and expansion of Actors Theatre of Louisville.
       He is survived by his wife, Christina Lee; son, Owsley III 
     (Victoire) and their children Chiara, William and Catalina; 
     daughters, Brooke Barzun (Matthew) and their children, 
     Jacques, Eleanor and Charles; and Augusta Holland (Gill) and 
     their children Cora, Owsley and Lila; brothers, W. L. Lyons 
     Brown Jr. (Alice Cary) and Martin S. Brown; sister, Ina Brown 
     Bond (Mac); brother-in-law, O'Donnell Lee (Jeanie); and 
     numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.
       Owsley will be remembered as profoundly wise, earned from a 
     life of curiosity, honesty, and discipline. From his wisdom 
     flowed humility and passionate kindness. It made him a great 
     leader, father, husband and friend, and it made him a great 
     man.
       He loved and supported the things that enrich the soul and 
     spirit--his wife and children, the creative arts, the natural 
     world, public-spirited enterprises, and, above all, 
     Louisville. Nothing pleased him more than bringing all these 
     things together at a party--welcoming all with his special 
     brand of Kentucky hospitality. He knew how to find joy in 
     work and obligations. Owsley knew when to listen and when to 
     laugh.
       He will be missed.
       The funeral will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at Christ 
     Church Cathedral, Episcopal, 421 S. Second St., with private 
     burial to follow. Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. Thursday at the 
     Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. Third St. Funeral arrangements are 
     being handled by A.D. Porter & Sons, Inc.
       In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to 
     either Fund for the Arts or Metro United Way.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I yield the floor.

                          ____________________