| Graduation Year | Faculty |
| Date of Passing | Jan 25, 2010 |
| About | Jack W. Brown, a former teacher and coach at Rushville Consolidated High School, died Monday at his home. Born July 24, 1927, in Newark, Ohio, he was the son of Richard S. and Helen (Peters) Brown, both deceased. He married Cinda Rice Aug. 8, 1976, she survives. Also surviving are his beloved son David (Debra) Brown of Richmond and daughter Becky (friend John McHugh) Brown of St. Louis. Jack was the proud grandfather of Katie Brown of Indianapolis and Ryan Brown of Bloomington. Jack is also survived by his loving brothers-in-law Dwight (Joan) Rice and Keith (Nancy) Rice, both of Rushville and Jeff (Jenny) Downs of Kansas. He was a favorite uncle to Allan (Melody) Rice of Rushville, Beth (Glen) Schubert of Wisconsin and Bill (Rhea) Rogers of Evansville and several other nieces and nephews. Jack's cherished great-nieces and nephews are: Adam Buckley, MacKenzie Rice, Alyson Buckley and Andrew Rice. Glenda Cregar had been a dear care-giver for Jack in his last year. Jack was preceded in death by his brother Bud Brown, and sisters Mary Jane Rogers and Christine Neal. Brown was the first Bloomington High School basketball player to play for the legendary Branch McCracken’s Hurryin’ Hoosiers of Indiana University. He was the starting center for teams that finished second in the Big 10. In that era, the NCAA accepted only one team per conference so he never played in that post season tournament. However, his teams did defeat Purdue six consecutive times from 1948 through 1951. He was a college Indiana All-Star and that team barn-stormed throughout the Midwest. He earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Indiana University. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. In basic training, he was recognized as the lanky lefty from IU and was recruited to play for the Sabres, a basketball team stationed at Sampson Air Force base in New York. The Sabres traveled throughout the United States and other countries competing and entertaining the troops. Brown was captain of the team when they won the Air Force National Championship. He also played on an U.S. Air Force volleyball team. He began his teaching and coaching career at Spencer High School, where he taught Health and Physical Education and coached varsity basketball and baseball. He then moved to Rushville where he coached basketball, baseball, track and cross country. He coached his 1964 Lions basketball team to the finals of the IHSAA semi-state at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He received many awards and honors during his coaching career, including the Joe Conover Outstanding Coach Award. He later became the chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department, and taught Health and Driver’s Education. Brown was an avid golfer most of his adult life. He loved his golfing buddies at the Antler Pointe Golf Club and his pool pals at the Rushville Elks BPOE #1307. He was a member of First Baptist Church and had attended Main Street Christian Church. He also was a member of Indiana University’s “I†Men’s Association, the IU Alumni Association, and the Rush County and Indiana State Retired Teacher’s Associations. A Celebration of Life service for Jack Brown will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in Memorial Gymnasium on the RCHS campus. |
