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June 23, 2009

Educator and coach honored for virtue

EDMOND — The Edmond City Council and the Character Council of Edmond recognized educator and coach Dr. Bob Brown as a “Champion of Character” for the trait of virtue during Monday’s City Council meeting.

The trait of virtue is defined as, “The moral excellence evident in one’s life as they consistently do what is right,” said Character Council President Jim Hulsey. “Someone who simply does what seems most convenient, or what someone else might approve of, reduces the integrity of virtue to a list of rules to follow. Everything we do causes a ripple effect and sets an example for others. Dr. Brown is a truly great example of how to consistently make ‘virtue ripples’ that were the right thing to do.”

Over the 36 years that Dr. J.W. Weatherford has known and worked with Brown, he had the privilege to observe Brown in a “variety of situations,” Weatherford said in his nomination of Brown as a Champion of Character.

“(Brown) has always been able to see something good in the bleakest situation,” and encouraged others when they’ve been down, or failed, or needed support, Weatherford wrote.

During many years of service, especially in the adult vocational and higher education fields, Brown consistently demonstrated the character of virtue.

Early in Brown’s education career, as an assistant coach, he demonstrated virtue by declining to do the wrong thing when a group of fans approached him to enlist his help in having the head coach replaced due to a very unsuccessful football season. Another time, as a high school football coach, Brown, despite opposition from fans, reprimanded and then had to dismiss a “star” player for the continued foul language the student used. And, as director of the Guthrie Job Corps Center, Brown held the moral high ground when a group of students accused a teacher of wrongdoing, demanding that teacher’s resignation. An investigation found the accusation to be false, exonerating the teacher.

It takes a remarkable man to be able to have and to use the values of virtue. “The benefits of his actions are that people love to be around Bob, trust him, admire him and look up to him. He is a Christian that lives what he believes,” Weatherford wrote.

In total agreement, long-time friend and business associate, Mo Anderson, concurs, “He’s the best! There’s no one more deserving.”

Brown is an Oklahoma native, born in Hollis. He grew up in Sulphur, where he met and married his wife Jerry. They have two grown and married sons, Don Brown of Frisco, Texas, and Joe Brown of Edmond. There are seven grandchildren. Bob and Jerry Brown attend the First Baptist Church of Edmond, where Bob serves as deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Bob Brown received his higher education from East Central Oklahoma State University, and his doctoral degree in education from the University of Oklahoma in business administration and vocational education. He has served in many roles during his career: classroom teacher and athletic coach as well as a director and coordinator of vocational technical education, with his latest position as a professor for the Department of Administration, Vocational, Adult and Higher Education at the University of Central Oklahoma from 1973-1989.

The Character Council is a grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to creating a citywide initiative to build Edmond into a “Community of Character.” The group believes that the character of a nation only can be strengthened one person at a time, one community at a time. Toward that end the Character Council of Edmond seeks to recognize residents who demonstrate character, as witnessed by those who have been affected and influenced.

To nominate a resident as a “Champion of Character,” one who exemplifies these character traits, log on to www.edmondcharacter.org or write to Champions of Character, P.O. Box 392, Edmond OK 73083-0392.

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