Bill Text: MS SC504 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Mourning the passing of former Natchez Mayor and MDOT Executive Director Larry "Butch" Brown and recognizing his public service.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-12 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC504 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-SC504-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Butler, Barnett, Branning, Brumfield, Frazier, Horhn, Johnson, McCaughn, Michel, Thomas, McLendon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 504
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE PASSING OF FORMER NATCHEZ MAYOR AND MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LARRY LYNN "BUTCH" BROWN, SR., AND RECOGNIZING HIS EFFECTIVE TENURE OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, we join the citizens of Natchez, Mississippi, and South Mississippi in mourning the passing of longtime transportation leader Larry Lynn "Butch" Brown, Sr., 79, who passed away on April 25, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Butch, as he was known, was born on June 10, 1943, in Natchez, Mississippi, the son of Coyle Hansel Brown and Deloris Givens. He graduated from Natchez High School and from The University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Business Management. He became an ad hoc instructor at the Resident Center of The University of Southern Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, he married Shields Godfrey in Natchez on March 25, 1972, and was the father of three children, Larry Lynn Brown, Jr., Coyle Sessions Brown and Caroline Shields Brown; and
WHEREAS, his business education and entrepreneurial spirit served him well and he founded The Brown Lumber Company, a highly respected venture and later Riverside Central Services, a full-service warehouse operation in the Natchez Port. In the 1970s his interests turned to public service, and he was instrumental in the establishment of a Natchez Campus of Copiah Lincoln Community College and served for many years on its Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, during this time, he helped establish the Mississippi - Louisiana Interstate Bridge Compact on which he served as a Commission Member, serving as a catalyst for the eventual funding and construction of a new four-lane bridge between the two states; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, he was elected Mayor of the City of Natchez and re-elected in 1996. His tenure as Mayor was marked by progressive ordinances and policies addressing new programs. Of special note was his lead in securing federal funding for the Natchez Bluff, which was recognized nationally as a significant engineering project and which has been enjoyed for many years by the citizens of Natchez and by visitors for its scenic beauty. This accomplishment coupled with the acquisition of the Natchez Pecan Factory Site and its use as a green space and an event venue has greatly enhanced Natchez as a Tourism Destination nationwide. Also, during this time, he helped secure funding for a new Visitor Center and convinced the U.S. Congress to help fund and locate the Federal Courthouse in Natchez; and
WHEREAS, he boldly took on the task of building a state-of-the-art Convention Center, bringing thousands of new visitors to Natchez. Through his efforts, the city acquired the Old Post Office on Main Street and repurposed it into a historic museum known as the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African American Culture. Butch was also a major player in the construction of the terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Liberty Road. A new Council Chamber was acquired, and the city updated water and sewer services, and moved the Police Department into a new facility; and
WHEREAS, Butch was always careful to give the city employees credit for these many successes and emphasized the achievements came about because he saw to the employment of good managers, department heads and staff and solicited and listened to their suggestions and ideas. He loved the City of Natchez and its people, and that was his lodestar in everything he did as a public servant; and
WHEREAS, in 2001 he was appointed by the Mississippi Transportation Commission as Executive Director of the Mississippi Transportation Department where he served until 2011. In this capacity the state was able to four lane and improve thousands of miles of roads and bridges across the state. He took special pride in the role he and former Governor Haley Barbour took in rebuilding of the roads and bridges on the Gulf Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, after leaving the Department of Transportation, he returned home to Natchez and was elected to a third term as Mayor in 2012 where he continued to oversee more improvements to the city's infrastructure and services. During this time he presided over the 300 Year Anniversary of the city's founding in 1716, a yearlong series of events depicting and telling the stories of the history and people who made Natchez such a wonderful and historic city; and
WHEREAS, Butch was a man of vision and that and his undaunted energy brought about many great changes to Natchez. One only needs to ride around the city and see the many landmarks noting these successes. To fully understand this complex man of many talents, in his reelection campaign in 1996, he noted his many successes as Mayor and his slogan was "I may not be perfect, but I get things done." And so he did; and
WHEREAS, Butch was preceded in death by his parents; son, Coyle Sessions Brown; daughter, Caroline Shields Brown; sister, Billie Brown Smith; and brother, Dwyane Brown. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Shields Godfrey Brown; son, Larry Lynn Brown Jr. (Mattie); grandchildren: Ansley Elizabeth Brown, Larry Lynn Brown III, William Barrett Brown, Caston Coyle Brown, Sessions Hite Brown and Shields Hutchinson Brown; niece, Kim Smith Clement (Michael); and nephew, William Edward Godfrey IV; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and give thanks for the legacy and devoted public service of an effective leader, and express to his surviving family our admiration, respect and deepest gratitude for his service to his community and the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the passing of former Natchez Mayor and Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry Lynn "Butch" Brown, Sr., and recognize his effective tenure of public service to the citizens of South Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Butch Brown, forwarded to the Mayor and City Council of Natchez, the Mississippi Transportation Commission, the Executive Director of MDOT and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
