July 6, 2010
Portrait Dedication Honors Former Justice Lloyd Brown
The second African-American to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio had his official portrait dedicated to the Supreme Court in a courtroom ceremony today.
Born on Dec. 12, 1928, in Little Rock, Ark., former Justice Lloyd O. Brown was appointed by then Gov. John J. Gilligan to the Supreme Court on Dec. 7, 1971. He served until Jan. 1, 1973. Justice Brown also served in judicial posts on the Cleveland Municipal Court and Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and was a member of the Ohio Board of Regents at the time of his death on May 5, 1993.
Justice Brown grew up in Cleveland, served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and graduated from The Ohio State University with three degrees: bachelor’s degrees in political science and law; and a juris doctor.
Justice Brown’s widow, Phyllis, attended and was recognized during the ceremony, and their three surviving children participated in the ceremony. Leslie A. Brown-Vincent, Lloyd O. Brown Jr. and Raymond S. Brown offered remarks about their father, while the two sons presented the portrait to the Supreme Court.
Brown-Vincent said her father faced many obstacles and challenges in his life and professional career with drive, determination and confidence. Living in a city (Baton Rouge, La.) well-known for its food, and particularly its gumbo, she listed portions of a “Justice Lloyd O Gumbo” recipe. She said the base or foundation of the gumbo, the roux, was family, education and people or community.
As an example of passing along a lifelong love of learning, Brown-Vincent said Justice Brown offered as an incentive a car if each of his children achieved the dean’s list in college, which each of them did. “We learned that dedication and focus can have a great return,” she said. She also spoke of her father’s value of loyalty, his love of telling jokes and his active involvement in the community.
The Justices of the Supreme Court accepted the portrait during an open session of Court. Chief Justice Eric Brown, who offered brief introductory remarks, noted that Justice Brown replaced his friend and the first African-American member of the Supreme Court – Justice Robert M. Duncan – who also attended the ceremony.
The portrait, painted by artist Norma A. Fleming, will hang in Room 107 in the Ohio Judicial Center, which serves as the home of the Supreme Court.
Media Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.