}); He also founded a roasted-chicken restaurant chain with the country music star Kenny Rogers, calling it Kenny Rogers Roasters. [69] In 2003, Patton renamed Kentucky Route 9 as the "John Y. John Y. }); He had many prominent accomplishments, but most of all he loved his family with all of his heart, and we in turn loved him with all of our hearts. In 1971, Brown sold his interest in KFC to Heublein for $284million (equivalent to $1,900,256,368 in 2021). Her father, then-Gov. "She's been a big part of our lives.". I will always love her and her children, but it seems a divorce is our only option now. Personal life [ edit] George with her then-husband John Y. pg.acq.push(function() { [15] After a three-month courtship, he hired Ollie Gleichenhaus, owner of Ollie's Sandwich Shop, a small diner in Miami Beach, Florida, to train Lum's staff to prepare his "Ollie Burger" hamburgers. "KFC Corporation". His positive attitude and zest for life was unrivaled and allowed him to beat the odds many times over. Some 30 years after his retirement from professional football, Hall-of-F, Joseph Emerson Brown Though his political career was brief, after storming to victory with a former Miss America by his side, he made millions after selling the fried chicken chain. Two years later, George returned to the show for a second stint and worked with the crew from 1980-1984. Phyllis George Wiki, Age, Husband, Daughter, Cause of Death, Net Worth Among his children are news anchor Pamela Ashley Brown and former Secretary of State of Kentucky John Young Brown III. Browns term as governor was marked by tough economic times, budget challenges, and state employee layoffs. On Wednesday, a private service for John Y. [31] In 1977, Brown purchased the remaining share of the team from the owner Paul Snyder. He lost perennial races for governor and the U.S. Senate losses that haunted his son and which John Jr. later blamed on machine politicians whose support his father had spurned. Brown, Jr. passed away last week. Beshear says flags will be flown at half staff at all state office buildings until sunset on the day of Brown's interment. Top headlines:McGrath stands by ad despite Republican governors' objections. He briefly competed for the U.S. Senate after his gubernatorial term in the 1984 election but withdrew from the race after only six weeks, citing health issues. Brown and Massey then spent weeks attempting to persuade Sanders into changing his mind. He then easily defeated Louie B. Nunn, a former Republican governor, that November. During his tenure, Brown exerted less influence over the legislature than previous governors and was frequently absent from the state, leaving Lieutenant Governor Martha Layne Collins as acting governor for more than one-quarter of his term. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of } National Governors Association. [12], For his work with KFC, Brown was named one of the Outstanding Young Men of America by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1966; the following year, the Chamber named him one of the Outstanding Civic Leaders of America. [38] In a press release, the association cited Brown's success at Kentucky Fried Chicken, his political career, and his help in establishing the university's SandersBrown Center on Aging as reasons for his induction. 19601977 Brown, Jr. was 45 and Phyllis George was 29 years old. [15] From 1972 to 1974, he hosted the Democratic National Telethon. John Y. He was 88. And pulled me aside and says, you know, he called me Reggie, you know Reggie Thomas, we need young men like you involved in politics, Senator Thomas said. "They beat me fair and square, but it was her glamour and his as well.". In July 1986, Reynolds announced the sale of KFC to PepsiCo for $850 million (around US$2.0 billion in 2020). What was Phyllis Georges net worth at the time of her death? }); Brown Jr. has died in Lexington after an illness. Phyllis George, a former Miss America, television personality and ex-wife of Gov. During the yearslong effort, the couple spentmost of Brown's term living at their Cave Hill mansion in Lexington. ", "John Y. In the first, he swapped reigning Rookie of the Year Adrian Dantley for the Indiana Pacers' Billy Knight, who was second in the league in scoring the previous season. [2][5] During one summer, his father expressed disappointment that he had decided to spend the summer selling vacuum cleaners instead of working on a road construction crew with the rest of his football teammates. [14] Using some of the profits from the KFC sale, Brown and some associates bought the Miami-based Lum's chain of restaurants from its founders, Stuart and Clifford S. Perlman, for $4million. [9] On March 17, 1979, he married former Miss America and CBS sportscaster Phyllis George. With the state and nation facing difficult economic times, Brown promised to run the state government like a business. I figured that upgrading it would be my first task. [47], Brown appointed a group of insurance experts to study the state's policies and put them out for bid, ultimately saving $2million. John Y. [45], In March 1980, the General Assembly created a committee to study whether it would be more feasible to construct a new governor's mansion or repair the old one. Brown Jr., who built the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire and was elected governor of Kentucky in 1979. Brown, who built Kentucky Fried Chicken into a worldwide fast-food power then pledged to run the state as a business, has died at age 88. Reynolds, the tobacco giant. "Phyllis was a great asset to Kentucky," said Brown, who also lives in Lexington and said hehad maintained an amicable relationship with his ex-wife. eventAction: 'view' Brown Jr. has diedin Lexingtonafter an illness. While Brown served as governor from 1979 to 1983, his business ventures, sports ownerships and marriage to former Miss America Phyllis George are what he might be remembered for most. [8] After only a few years, Brown left his father's law firm and began a career in business. Yes, John Y. Brown sold his stake in the company for $284 million in 1971. Kirkpatrick and Papanek, "Scouting Reports". Pamela Brown Bio, Married, Net Worth, Ethnicity, Age, Height John Sr. was a trial lawyer who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives in the mid-1930s and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for several decades. "We had a great partnership," he said. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ "And everybody in Kentucky, it seems, wants to kiss the former Miss America turned television personality.". [41] McBrayer also claimed that Brown had not voted in a Democratic primary since 1975, a charge validated by public voting records. After the defeat, Brown focused again on his business ventures which included teaming up with country star Kenny Rogers to create a chicken restaurant chain and later a meal prep kitchen concept with actress Suzanne Somers. "Moore, Ellie Durall (1940) John Y. In 1964, then 73 years old, he sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. And I would say, John, they are going to be better. Well, lets go to practice, we would call up Cal and go to practice.. And then it made my job easier when it was time to look for more economic development and more growth., He would call me and say I dont like the way the football team is playing or the basketball team, said the founder of Host Communications, Jim Host. [1] He was the only son of five children born to John Y. and Dorothy Inman Brown. I never will forget that.. Currently single, he has been married . Dictionaries thesauruses pictures and press releases, Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. John Young Brown (February 1, 1900 June 16, 1985) was an American attorney and politician. Kentuckians have known CNN reporter Pamela Brown since before she was born. hitType: 'event', [42], Within a month of moving into the Governor's Mansion, Brown noticed significant deterioration in the wiring and ordered a full inspection. Brown Jr., KFC Mogul and Kentucky Governor, Dies at 88, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/25/us/john-y-brown-jr-dead.html. Mr. Brown, right, in 1978 with Red Auerbach, the general manager of the Boston Celtics, shortly after Mr. Brown became the owner of the team. But when he was blocked from moving the Braves to Louisville, Ky., Mr. Brown and a partner made a deal with the Boston Celtics ownership to swap the teams. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), [13] Brown sold the Lum's chain for $9.5million to Friedrich Jahn's Wienerwald holding group in 1978. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. While most credited Phyllis for John's win, in a Courier-Journal Interview, Phyllis said, "John was handsome, charismatic, successful, entrepreneurial, a visionary, but he's a little shy," admitting that her husband "needed encouragement" sometimes. John Y. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' [6], Other candidates in the Democratic field included sitting lieutenant governor Thelma Stovall, Terry McBrayer (the choice of sitting governor Julian Carroll), congressman Carroll Hubbard, state auditor George Adkins, and Louisville mayor Harvey Sloane. [2] After high school, Brown matriculated at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1957 and a law degree in 1960. Brown Jr., a born salesman who became a multimillionaire by transforming Kentucky Fried Chicken into a global brand and then sold himself to voters in a six-week TV blitz to become. In 1985, George served as co-anchor for the CBS Morning News. Senator Reggie Thomas says Brown had a major influence on him as a young adult. gads_event = event; Stouffer, "A High Stakes Game of Chicken". [54] Brown's office tried to conceal the seriousness of his condition, drawing fire from the press. Brown Jr. was a businessman and politician who built KFC into a fast-food empire and went on to be elected governor of Kentucky. Brown Jr. (Kentucky governor who later married tv host Phyllis George, 1979, and Jill Louise Brown, 1998), 1960 (div. Established majority stock ownership in Kentucky Colonels team of American Basketball Association and became head of team's 5-woman governors board (1973); received Kentucky Woman of the Year Award (1973). In about 184, Brown, Jim 1936 John Brown ran Stryker Corp., a medical device and software company, for 32 years before retiring as chairman in 2009. NATIONALITY: British John Young Brown, Jr. (born December 28, 1933) is a politician, entrepreneur, and businessman from the U.S. state of Kentucky. [16][15] He later started a chain of take-out restaurants called Ollie's Trolley, named for Gleichenhaus. George debuted on CBSs NFL pre-game show, The NFL Today, in 1974 with Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, and Jimmy The Greek Snyder. [13] In September 1983, the national Democratic Party named him Democrat of the Year, and he was later made the party's lifetime Honorary Treasurer. Brown's Empire Stretches Across the Nation", "Former Kentucky Gov. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); [39], During his term, Brown served as co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission and chair of the Southern States' Energy Board. Hutt, "Kenny Rogers Wants to Take Name with Him from Bankrupt Roaster Chain". FRANKFORT, KY (WOWK) - Former Kentucky Governor John Y. John Y. Brown Jr. obituary: KFC owner dies at 88 - Legacy.com 24 Feb. 2023 . John Y. Brown Jr., a former KFC owner & Kentucky governor, dies at 88 While George gained notoriety on The NFL Today, she also did various other work for the network, including coverage of horse racing and the NBA. Stryker's revenues climbed from $17 million to $6.7 billion under. In Boston, Mr. Brown alienated loyalists by trading away popular players before selling the team in 1979. I just never respected him after that. Phyllis George - Wikipedia Army", "John Y. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Brown, Jr. passed away last week. nineteenth century governor of the same name, "Ollie is Now a General in the P.R. 38years (November 29, 1983)Pamela Brown / Age. John Y. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In 1972, she joined the cast of "The NFL Today," co-hosting pregame shows beforegames and was one of the first women to have a national role in television sports. },false) All rights reserved. In 1979, however, recently wed to Phyllis George, a pioneering sportscaster and former Miss America, Mr. Brown plunged into a six-week television campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and defeated several candidates by a plurality of just under 30 percent. [6] Brown defeated former Republican governor Louie Nunn in the 1979 general election by a vote of 588,088 to 381,278. John Y. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Referring to the 1987 Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign, Brown continued, "He said things that were not true, like we had raised taxes. 0:57. [24] Head coach Joe Mullaney followed soon after, saying that Brown was going to be too meddlesome in personnel decisions. Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. While Phyllis George became a fixture on Sunday morning television in households across the country during the 1974 NFL season, it was three years earlier George caught the nations attention when she was crowned Miss America. "For many, Mom was known by her incredible accomplishments," Lincoln and Pamela Brown said. Phyllis George Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth A trait lost in many today. [71] Investor John Shannon Bouchillon sued Brown and Somers, claiming they had deceived him both before and after his investment of $400,000. Brown Jr. circa 1981 George was married twice. [47] The renovation and repairs were completed in March 1983, and the Brown family returned to the mansion in April. [39] He promised to run the state government like a business and to be a salesman for the state as governor. Governor John Y. [53], In Kentucky's Governors, Brown biographer Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau said of his administration: "There were no scandals. I don't want to be part of it. [1] In May 1981, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Kentucky, and in May 1982, he was the recipient of the Father of the Year award. Andy Beshear offered his condolences on Twitter on Saturday. Brown, Jr. still alive? Born Eleanor Bennett Durrall, Feb 11, 1940, in Central City, KY; m. John Y. }) The beauty so many recognized on the outside was a mere fraction of her internal beauty, only to be outdone by an unwavering spirit that allowed her to persevere against all the odds.. She oncesaid that her favorite place on Earth was "Kentucky in the fall" and had moved back toKentucky in recent years, settling in Lexington, where John Y. [60] When Brown approached the state capitol to file his papers, Beshear met him outside the filing office and challenged him to an impromptu debate, but Brown declined. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. [6] Among his failed proposals were a multi-county banking law, a flat rate income tax, professional negotiations for teachers, and a constitutional amendment to allow a governor to be elected to successive terms. ga('ads.send', { "John Y Brown Jr, Kentucky's Democratic candidate for governor, and his wife of seven months, Phyllis George, constantly hug and kiss like newlyweds on the campaign trail. [6] Keeping a campaign promise to appoint a woman and an African-American to his cabinet, Brown named William E. McAnulty Jr., and Jacqueline Swigart to his cabinet. McBrayer, defeated by Brown in the gubernatorial primary, said he didn't hold the lossagainst his political opponent and became lifelong friends with George and Brown. He married Wealthy Hotchkiss in 1847. "[53] Scandal did touch Brown personally, however, as well as some of his close associates. [6] For example, he did not attempt to influence the choice of legislative leadership, while most previous governors had practically hand-selected the presiding officers in each house. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { A New York Times story about the race described it as "the kissing campaign. [47] He cut the executive office staff from ninety-seven to thirty and sold seven of the state's eight government airplanes. Because he owed few favors to established political leaders, he appointed many successful businesspeople to state posts instead of making political appointments. Brown Jr./Spouse. Four hours later, he trades George Johnson and a 1979 1st round pick to the New York Nets for Nate "Tiny" Archibald. Former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. dies - wkyt.com Brown grew Kentucky Fried Chicken from 600 to 3,500 franchises. "I've had a lot of life experiences. Golden, "Brown Yearns for Old Kentucky Home". During Georges time at CBS, she earned around $175,000 per year. Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown Jr. dies at 88 and what I think he was adept at selling was the state, Former congressman Ben Chandler said. John Y. [39] Consequently, many of his legislative recommendations were not enacted. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He was born on December 28, 1933 and his birthplace is Lexington Kentucky. He was born in Lexington in 1933 and was the son of former U.S. Rep. John Y. John Y. He supposedly told a friend at the time, 'I think I'll out with her. From here on out, I want every day to count.". "John was handsome, charismatic, successful, entrepreneurial, a visionary," she told The Courier Journal in 1998. While Brown served as governor from 1979 to 1983, his business ventures, sports ownerships and marriage Phyllis George are what he might be remembered for most. Brown intended to build the business into a chain, but five months after the Lexington location opened, both stores closed. DIED: 1889, Venice, Italy [8] Brown eventually sold his interest in the team to co-owner Harry Mangurian in 1979. Brown Jr., son Lincoln Brown, a technology entrepreneur, and daughter Pamela Brown, a news reporter with CNN. George, in a Courier Journal interview, gaveBrown the credit for his win though she acknowledged she may have helped boost his confidence. hitType: 'event', Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Can you help fund our expanding, Pulitzer-winning investigative team? He served as the 55th governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983, although he may be best known for building Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) into a multi-million dollar restaurant chain. [55], Some of Brown's associates were involved with a Lexington cocaine and gun-smuggling ring called "The Company". pg.acq.push(function() { Colonel Sanders sold the business in 1964 for $2 million and continued to collect a salary for his work as the face of the brand. Brown Jr. and their son,Lincoln Brown,also live. [61] Other ads by Beshear played up Brown's ties to James P. Lambert, while still others claimed that Brown would raise taxes. Business Interests: In 1986 Phyllis herself jumped into the. [6] In all, Brown was out of the state leaving Lieutenant Governor Martha Layne Collins as acting governor for more than five hundred days during his four-year term. Phyllis Ann George death: How the Miss America's 'glamor' helped husband John Y Brown Jr become governor in 1979. Brown was governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983 and is credited with making KFC a worldwide and household name. John Y. It grew to 350 outlets, but competition from Kentucky Fried Chicken, by then known as KFC, and the Boston Chicken chain (later known as Boston Market) drove it into bankruptcy in 1998. Brown Jr. Updated: Nov 22, 2022 / 04:02 PM EST. Her first, Chicken by George, was a maker of marinated fresh chicken-breast entrees, which she eventually sold to Hormel Foods. "But he's a little shy.". [27] It was one of her very few film roles. John Y. [75] He had been dealing with health complications derived from COVID-19 since the summer. [2] By 1964, Brown persuaded Jack C. Massey[11] to purchase KFC from Sanders for $2 million (equivalent to $17,474,249 in 2021). She only lasted for eight months before she became embroiled in a controversy over an interview and resigned. Brown, Jr. passed away last week. [31] He re-signed All Star guard Randy Smith, who had threatened to leave as a free agent, then traded the club's first-round draft pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Swen Nater. Fmr. Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. laid to rest Reach Deborah Yetter at dyetter@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4228. She died of a rare blood cancer in 2020 at 70 after a long career as a CBS sportscaster, in which she shattered a barrier in 1975 by joining the all-male cast of the program The NFL Today.. [44] The Department of Buildings and Construction forbade use of the mansion for overnight purposes or group meetings until repairs could be made. During her four years as first lady, George also oversaw and helped raise money to renovate the aging Governor's Mansion on the grounds of the Capitol. [21] Following the 197273 season, Cherry sold his interest in the Colonels to a group from Cincinnati; Brown immediately purchased Cherry's interest from the group, reportedly to keep the team from moving to Cincinnati. ", See also:Those we've lost to the coronavirus in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. I want to encourage you to stay the course and continue to get involved because we need to hear voices like yours. [47] He waived his salary for the remainder of his term. [64] Roasters immediately found itself in competition with Boston Chicken (later known as Boston Market) and several smaller roasted chicken chains. merged with the National Basketball Association the next year. The duo had divorced in 1998 and share two children together Lincoln Tyler George Brown, who is now a Lexington entrepreneur, and Pamela Ashley Brown, a White House correspondent for CNN. [18] Kenny Rogers Roasters, another chain founded with country music superstar Kenny Rogers proved more successful. A strong media campaign funded by his personal fortune allowed him to win the Democratic primary and go on to defeat former Republican governor Louie B. Nunn in the general election. The companys rapid expansion across the United States and overseas became overwhelming for Sanders. [77][78] His funeral was held at the Kentucky Capitol on November 30. [55] Brown, who was not the focus of the FBI's investigation, later recanted that statement. Kentucky Gov. Governor Martha Layne Collins was the first and only female governor to live in the Governor's Mansion. Over the next seven years he transformed a national string of about 600 restaurants into one of the worlds largest fast-food chains, with some 3,000 red-and-white-striped takeout outlets. net worth of john y brown jr - legal-innovation.com Phyllis Georgem. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. John Y. Brown Jr. Dead: Former Kentucky Governor and KFC Owner Was 88 John Y. Joseph Emerson Brown The team won the league championship in 1975 but folded when the A.B.A. Who's Kentucky's new first lady? Brown married three times, the second time to former Miss America Phyllis George. Editor:Can you help fund our expanding, Pulitzer-winning investigative team? Attained Stardom at CBS [13] Eventually, he became a member of both the Kentucky and Louisville Chambers of Commerce. Governor's Mansion Copyright 2022 WKYT. }); Former Kentucky first lady and Miss America Phyllis Ann George passed away at the age of 70 on Friday, May 15. John Y. A native of Denton, Texas, George was a student at North Texas State University when she won the Miss America title that would change her life, leading to dozens of national appearances during her one-year reign before she settled in New York to try to break into television. George,. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. Phyllis and John married in 1979 with their friend Norman Vincent Peale officiating, reported USA Today. [59] He entered the race late filing his candidacy papers in late February before the primary election in late May. [3][4] A 1979 People magazine article recounts that the elder Brown's nine unsuccessful political races for either governor or the U.S. Senate took a toll on his family and left his mother resentful of all the money spent on campaigns. Brown served as the commonwealth's 55th governor . Former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown dies at 88 | CNN Politics [65] Brown then took Roasters public and grew it to a chain of more than 1,000 restaurants before selling his interest in the franchise to the Malaysia-based Berjaya Group in 1996. [30] The Braves had posted a dismal 3052 record in the 197576 season, and Brown immediately set out to make moves that would improve the franchise's fortunes in the next season. [45] He was also given a travel allowance. [33] Boston sent Freeman Williams, Kevin Kunnert, and Kermit Washington to the Braves for "Tiny" Archibald, Billy Knight, and Marvin Barnes. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. }); "I was prepared. In the midst of her passing, her ex-husband former Governor John Y Brown Jr revealed the type of relationship the duo shared while they were married giving us a bit of insight into their time together. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { "Phyllis, don't bother them," she recalled him saying. May, "Vindicated McAdoo Happily Heading for the Hall". Brown Jr", "Fmr. Copyright 2022 WKYT. He was a state representative for nearly three decades, serving one term as speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives and as majority floor leader during the term of Governor Edward T. Breathitt. Former Kentucky governor and businessman John Y. Brown dies She would later say that was one of the toughest times in her professional life. Brown's children. [6][10] During a 1963 political breakfast, Brown met Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and the two discussed selling Sanders' chicken in Brown's chain of barbecue restaurants. [67] After Brown reportedly cut off much of his wife's financial support, she filed a second divorce petition in 1997, this time in Broward County, Florida where her husband was living at the time. FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - A former Kentucky Governor and well-known businessman was laid to rest on Wednesday. Name variations: Ellie Brown. She died in May 2020. Brown Jr. laid to rest, One dead after tree falls onto car in Lexington, Chris Baileys Forecast | Potential for tornadoes to spin up across the area, Lexington asking residents to report property damage. ." Brown tried to make a political comeback in 1987 but failed to win the Democratic partys nomination for governor. [12] By 1967, KFC had become the nation's sixth-largest restaurant chain by volume and first offered its stock for public purchase in 1969. [9] He got his wife involved in managing a barbecue restaurant; upon seeing its success, he became convinced of the financial potential of the fast food industry. [13] Later that year, he considered running for the U.S. Senate, but decided against it once former governor Louie Nunn entered the race. [57] Phone records also showed calls from the governor's mansion to several individuals eventually convicted of drug charges in connection with the investigation. Brown Jr truly shows how horrible he is at basketball while the owner of the Braves and how he was just in it for the money. [1], In 1982, Brown was briefly hospitalized for hypertension, and near the end of his term, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. "[15] Accordingly, he hired a group of young executives to find "the perfect hamburger".