Jesse Brown (March 27, 1944 – August 15, 2002) was an American politician and Marine Corps veteran who served as the second United States secretary of veterans affairs under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997.
Early life
Jesse Brown was born on March 27, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, serving until July 1997. He was the first African American to hold that post. He is also the first former enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces named Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. During his tenure, Brown expanded the services offered to female veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans who were ill due to chemical exposures in Vietnam or the Gulf War. After he resigned as secretary, Brown founded a consulting firm, Brown and Associates.
Disabled veterans' memorial
Brown was one of three people who provided the impetus for the creation of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, a national memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors disabled veterans. In 1998, philanthropist Lois Pope realized there was no memorial to disabled veterans in the nation's capital. Although she did not know him, Pope called Brown's Veterans Affairs office to plead for a memorial. Pope called every day for the next six months, until finally Brown's secretary put her call through. Brown agreed to support legislation establishing a memorial. Brown introduced Pope to Art Wilson, Brown served as the executive director of the American Disabled Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation until his death.
The three individuals and their supporters began lobbying Congress to win passage of the necessary federal legislation. Two quotations by Brown are featured on the memorial.
Death
Brown died in Warrenton, Virginia on August 15, 2002, of lower motor neuron syndrome. He had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, since 1999.
He was survived by his wife, Sylvia, and his children Carmen and Scott.
In May 2004, the West Side VA Medical Center in Chicago was renamed the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in his honor.
See also
- Disabled American Veterans
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- Vietnam Veterans of America