Thursday, February 4, 2021
My wife Ann and I offer deep condolences to the entire Brown family in Horace’s passing. He and I were more than colleagues but good friends as well. These are my thoughts about the Horace Brown I knew and about the legacy he has left us.
Horace was a doer. He spent his lifetime dedicated to using the institution of government in finding better ways to improve life for all Connecticut citizens. I know, I was there with him through most of his work life and I was continually amazed at his God given ability to hit exactly the right note at the right time and, not only understand the essence of a problem, but to offer workable solutions as well.
It all started in the mid 1950’s as a result of four things; his City Planning preparation, new Federal Housing and Urban Development legislation with funding to states, the devastation caused by the 1955 Connecticut floods and the expanding population growth in his adopted state. He then spent three plus decades through the 1980’s enabling State and Federal legislation, funding and policies in providing help to municipal governments which often struggled with local growth, development, redevelopment and urban renewal issues. He always made certain that statewide, Tri-state and regional perspectives were provided to all towns facing growing shopping, transportation, industrial, recreational and utility projects and plans. He was also instrumental in creating the concept of both the Statewide and Local Plans of Conservation and Development to help guide urban and rural growth.
He worked directly and closely with six different Governors, all of whom came to trust his judgement and counsel. He wrote the original State legislation to enable towns to create Historic Districts and he actually orally dictated the first State Recreation Plan designed to obtain Federal funds which are still available annually today for both State and town open space projects. He brought into Connecticut government a plethora of young, talented and bright people and critically assisted several times in the restructuring of the Governor’s Office to enable it to respond more quickly to difficult and emerging problems e.g. the 1973 gasoline shortage. He actively supported combinations of towns to band together in solving problems leading to what is today our Councils of Government. His lifelong volunteering efforts included his housing construction involvements with the American Baptist Church at both the local and state level, his active involvement in state and national planning organizations and, up until recently, as a member of his local Planning and Zoning Commission in his beloved Manchester.
Indeed, Horace was a doer and he did well. We all today are privileged to be the benefactors of his magnificent legacy.
Brad Chase
