William Brown Jr., JD

KNOXVILLE — William Theodore “Ted” Brown Jr., J.D., an adjunct professor at the University of Tenn., died July 3, 2018, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville following a short illness. He was 69 years old. He lived in Knoxville, Tenn. and was Senior Lecturer in the U.T. Department of Political Science. Born in Memphis, TN on June 7, 1949, Brown grew up in Etowah, TN and graduated as the first Valedictorian of Central High School of McMinn County in 1967. Mr. Brown graduated summa cum laude from UT in 1971 with a Bachelors Degree in History and obtained a J.D., in 1978 at Vanderbilt University School of Law. Brown was a Veteran of The United States Air Force. He practiced law in Atlanta for twenty-five years, joining Kirkpatrick and Cody in its creditor’s rights practice. Later he joined Long, Aldrich, and Norman in its financial restructuring practice. Brown then returned to Knoxville in 2006 to begin his teaching career. At U.T. he taught Constitutional Law, Civil Rights and Liberties, Judicial Process, Tennessee Government, and Law in American Society. He also was Adjunct Professor of Law in American Legal History at the University of Tennessee’s College of Law. As an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Brown organized and catalogued Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver’s papers and since has written several articles about Senator Kefauver, the law, the history of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee political and legal history. He was co-editor, with Professor James W. Ely, Jr. of the Vanderbilt University of School of Law, of Legal Papers of Andrew Jackson (University Of Tennessee Press 1987). Brown served as a member of the U.S. Senate staff of U.S. Senator Albert Gore, Sr., 1969-1970, and Mrs. Gore (Pauline) strongly encouraged him to pursue a law degree at Vanderbilt. Senator Albert Gore, Sr. and Mrs. Gore were mentors to Ted. He was the son of the late William Theodore Brown, Sr., DDS, and Aileen Collins Brown of Etowah, TN. He is survived by a close knit family including: his brother and sister-in-law, Charles David Brown, DDS (Debbie), niece Mary Beth Bain (Jerreth), nephew Matthew David Brown (Catie), great nephew David Spence Brown, great niece Landrie Collins Bain; special friends, Bob Allen, Jim and Susan Spratt, James Spratt, and Matthew and Molly Moye, as well as numerous friends, colleagues, and admiring students who stayed in touch through the years. The family will assemble at 9 a.m. on Saturday July 7, 2018, at the funeral home and proceed to Green Hill Cemetery for a 10 a.m. graveside service. The Rev. Rebecca A. Reed will be officiating. Pallbearers will be Matthew Brown, Jerreth Bain, Bob Allen, Bruce Collins, Jim Spratt, and James Spratt. Bob Collins, Bill Collins, Jack Collins, Jerry Collins, Wayne Collins and Clayton Brewer will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at the funeral home on Friday July 6, 2018. If you are unable to attend you may sign the guest registry at www.bordwinefuneralhome.com.