Brown, Walter J. (Walter Jay), 1872-1960

Walter J. Brown was born on July 25, 1903 in Bowman, Georgia, son of J. J. (John Judson) (1865-1953) and Captora Ginn Brown (1866-1956). Attended the Georgia Institute of Technology High School, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. He married Georgia Watson Lee (died 1935), a granddaughter of Thomas E. Watson, in 1925. Subsequently he married Ruth Taylor (1916-1990) in 1941 (divorced in 1966) and Ann Revell Chadeayne Tindale in 1970. Had two sons (one each with first two wives), Thomas Watson Brown (1933-2007) and James Byrnes Brown (born 1947). Worked in the Georgia Department of Agriculture 1925-1927 and operated a mail-order book business and published a monthly publication called "The Watsonian" 1927-1929; also helped arrange lecture tours for Senator Thomas Heflin of Alabama. Moved to Washington in 1929 to work as a journalist and started his own news bureau in 1930. Become the Vice President and General Manager of the Spartanburg Advertising Company in 1940. From 1943-1945 served as Assistant to the Director of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion (OWMR) and in 1945 served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of State. Organized George-Carolina Broadcasting Company in 1945 and served as its president. Started the Hickory Hill Broadcasting Company in 1947 and organized the Spartan Radiocasting Company in 1947-1948, purchasing station WORD. Bought WSPA in 1953; was appointed Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Radiocasting Company in 1988 which changed its name to Spartan Communications, Inc. in 1995. Walter J. Brown died on November 17, 1995 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was buried in Thomson, Georgia.

From the description of Walter J. Brown papers, 1879-1995, 1915-1995. (Clemson University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 551158193