Willard W. Brown

June 11, 1915 – July 1, 2002

Willard W. Brown, 87, a World War II hero, longtime business leader and former Republican candidate for mayor of Cleveland, died Monday at University Hospitals. He was president of Cleveland Graphite Bronze Co. and of University Circle Research Center Inc.

In 1962, Brown resigned as vice president of Clevite Corp., gave up his seats on corporate boards and moved from a Hunting Valley estate to Cleveland to run for mayor. The incumbent was former Law Director Ralph J. Locher, who had never run for office but became mayor when Anthony J. Celebrezze was appointed to President Kennedy's Cabinet. Although Brown's campaign was the most energetic by a Republican in years, he was not able to overcome the city's entrenched Democratic preference.

Brown was born in Cleveland. He attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., and earned undergraduate and law degrees at Yale University. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on the eve of World War II. He was trained as a navigator. Later, he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in combat after he removed a bullet from the leg of a fellow officer during a bombing run over Europe.

Shortly after that, Brown's Flying Fortress was shot down and he parachuted into the Baltic Sea. After three hours in 50-degree water he was picked up by Germans and was held as a prisoner of war for two years. He attempted several escapes and helped other prisoners win their freedom. His success at directing the digging of escape tunnels was an inspiration for the movie "The Great Escape." Near the end of the war Brown and Cyrus Eaton Jr., son of the late Cleveland industrialist, broke out and made it to American lines.

After the war, Brown became an assistant law director for Cleveland and was affiliated with the Jones, Day, Cockley and Reavis law firm. He entered industry in 1952. He eventually became a director of Lake Central Airlines, Ameritrust Co., Ferro Corp. and Cleveland Magazine.

After his race for mayor, Brown continued civic activities by establishing and serving as president of University Circle Research Center Inc., which developed facilities near the campus of Case Western Reserve University. He was a trustee and supporter of many educational and social service organizations. He chaired the National Parks and Recreation Association.

He most recently was a director of Virginia Hot Springs Inc.

Brown married Louise Ingalls in 1948. They lived in Kirtland Hills. She died in 1998.

Brown is survived by sons, Willard Jr. of Brooksville, Maine, and David I. of West Hartford, Conn.; daughters, Alice Hitchcock and Barbara, both of Chardon; 12 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters; and two brothers.

A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights.

Arrangements are by the Brown-Forward Funeral Home of Shaker Heights.

Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH) - Saturday, July 6, 2002