By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
Herb Brown turned 100 years of age on Sept. 22 with all of the pomp and circumstance due to a centenarian of his caliber. The Baltimore business giant has been an active member of the Ashburton community for 62 years.
Brown didn’t celebrate this milestone birthday alone.
At noon on Saturday, Sept. 21, more than 125 of his friends and family gathered at the Baltimore Inner Harbor for a cruise on the water. The event was organized by his family and friends, who were excited to honor Brown.
“I have had the pleasure and honor of seeing Herb for the last 60 of his 100 years,” said Dan Henson. “It’s easy to think of your own mortality when you look at Herb and see his youthfulness.”
Henson said over the years, he has taken note of Brown’s ability to age with grace and style.
“Three secrets to his longevity that I have noticed: One, he stopped drinking alcoholic beverages 50 years ago and replaced it with water–every Black bartender in Baltimore knows that. Two, he takes a nap every day and three, he gets dressed and does something daily that stimulates him physically and intellectually. I’m not saying these are the secrets to getting to 100, but they work for Herb and for me so far,” said Henson.
Among the many guests were Maryland Chief Judge Robert Bell, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), State Sen. Jill Carter (D-Md.-41), State Del. Samuel “Sandy” Rosenberg (D-Md.-41), Theo Rodgers, co-founder and CEO of A&R Development, and Att. Kenneth L. Thompson.
“It is rare,” said Bell, “to be able to celebrate the 100th birthday of someone with such immense importance to the development of our community and to be able to share it with so many of his mentees– including myself. This was really special.”
Carter echoed similar sentiments. “We don’t often get to share a centennial celebration with our living heroes. It was an honor to see him smiling and to show him that his commitment and contributions are appreciated.”
Brown was born in Winnsboro, S.C. He is the youngest of three sons born to Lawrence and Willie Mae Brown. “He was about six months old when his family moved to Baltimore,” says his granddaughter, Erika Bessick, who stays close to her grandfather to spend time with him every day.
Brown graduated from Douglass High School and from there went into the Army. After two years, he was discharged honorably as a sergeant.
“They had two lines, one if you wanted to stay in the army and another if you wanted to leave,” says Bessick. “Grandfather chose the line to leave. He became a salesman,” she tells the AFRO.
And Brown was quite a salesman.
He spent a number of years in sales, selling everything from mini blinds and floor coverings to beer. According to Bessick, Brown spent 12 years selling Ballantine Beer until the company was acquired and his position was eliminated.
“Herb was a businessman, but more than that, he is a tremendous human being. It was great seeing one of the legends of the early days of Black entrepreneurship,” said Attorney Ken Thompson.
In 1968, Brown founded the Mondawmin Travel Agency. He was one of only two Black businesses at the time to be located in the West Baltimore mall. The only other Black owned business at the time was the Pauline Brooks women’s dress shop, which had moved to Mondawmin from North Avenue in 1967.
Brown became among the power brokers in Baltimore and a close friend of the Late Willie Adams. Brown took a special interest in Northwest Baltimore politics and was among the founders of the Vanguard Organization, which helped elect a number of Black politicians going back to Sen. Verda Welcome and Sen. Clarence Blount.
Chuck Thompson, who turned 100 years old earlier this year, also made his way to the cruise along with Angela Gibson. Thompson served as president of Vanguard while Brown was its long-time treasure.
“His role as a political power broker helped to build Black power in Northwest Baltimore and shape policies that elevated our community for generations,” said Carter.
Theo Rodgers also weighed in on how Brown’s hard work has impacted the city.
“Herb Brown has always been involved behind the scenes in activities that improved Baltimore’s Black community in business and politics. His positive attitude has been a motivation for me for over 50 years,” he said.
Eventually, Brown moved his office into his Ashburton home, where he continued to host the Vanguard Organization after selling his travel agency.
Today Brown spends most of his time with his family.
“He loves having his grandchildren around, he likes the noise, and he enjoys watching them. On special occasions like my sister’s baby shower, he’ll put on his suede jacket and strut. He’s steadier on his feet then most people, even me,” said Bessick.
Lenny Clay remembers Brown as a mentor to many young Black business people. “He is someone we looked up to–such a snappy dresser,” said Clay, who’s been cutting hair in Baltimore for over 60 years.
“He is up early every day and ready to go. [He] gets dressed a little more casual than the days when he would walk around in his sports coats and suits. Button down shirts [and] sweaters are now the order of the day,” says Bessick.
Brown fathered three children and only his son, Kevin Brown, lives with him in his Ashburton home today.
Brown and his son Kevin occasionally spend time at C and C’s Lounge watching the football games together.
“It is a joy to be here and ride this out with him,” said his son. “He says he is ‘going to 110.’ I laugh and asked him is that all you got?’ I’m overwhelmed to see so many people supporting him and remembering his contributions.”
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