Samuel Mortimer Brown
Samuel Mortimer Brown, b September 24, 1899 in Navasota, Texas, d December 13, 1977 in Marlin and buried there in Calvary Cemetery - was one of three sons of James Edward Brown, b September 24, 1866 in Charleston, South Carolina, d March 12, 1933 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, and his wife, Catherine Mary Bellinger, b August 10, 1866 in Charleston, South Carolina, d June 4, 1914 in Marlin and buried in Calvary Cemetery.The parents were married in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where they were educated, and the mother taught school. In the 1890's they moved to Navasota, Texas, where they had James Edward Brown, Jr.; George Bellinger Brown, and Samuel Mortimer Brown. In 1903, the family moved to Marlin, Falls County, Texas, where Catherine's uncle, Captain J. A. Martin - an early, prominent lawyer - had settled. Mr. Brown was hired as a Bookkeeper at the Marlin Oil Mill. They were communicants of the St. John's Episcopal Church, and their children were educated in the Marlin Public Schools.
After finishing high school in 1916, Samuel Mortimer Brown (called Mortimer) enrolled at The University of Texas, Austin; but left to enlist in the U.S. Army's Officers Training School for World War 1- resuming his education after the Armistice.
On January 5, 1920 in Falls County, Texas, Mortimer was married to Lucy G. Curry, b February 13, 1901 at Bremond, Robertson County, Texas, d October 5, 1984 in Marlin and buried there in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of Dr. Hardy Prince and Dyadema Elizabeth (Gary) Curry, of Reagan and Marlin.
During the next decade, Mr. Brown served as High School Principal at Mexia, Texas, and Superintendent of Schools in Bremond, Sugarland, and Bryan, Texas. He had earned his B. B. A. Degree from The University of Texas in 1925, and his M. A. degree from Columbia University in 1930.
In 1937, Mr. Brown became the first Executive Secretary of the new Teachers Retirement System of Texas, and moved to Austin, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1941. He returned to the teaching field when he became superintendent of the Nacogdoches Independent School District, and later served in the same capacity in Tyler and EI Paso.
During World War II, Dr. Brown was in the U.S: Army with the Allied Military Government in Occupied Germany, being discharged with the rank of Major.
In 1957, he retired from school administration and founded Brown and Associates, a sales organization for the distribution of teaching aids, operating the business until 1975, when his health failed. The firm was then sold to Baker & Taylor - a division of W. R. Grace & Company.
Dr. Brown was a member of the Masonic Lodge, past president of two Rotary Clubs, and past president of the Texas State Teachers Association.
The provisions of his Will created the Mortimer and Lucy Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund - providing awards for individuals with economic need and scholastic achievement in Falls and Brazos Counties, the places that had contributed to his own education and professional and financial success. The first scholarships for a significant amount were made in 1986, and represent Dr. Samuel Mortimer Brown's devotion to public education.
Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.
