Introduction
William K. Brown (January 7, 1923—July 13, 2011) was an American politician. He was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Grant and Rapides parishes in Central Louisiana from 1960 to 1972.
Early life and education
William Brown was born on January 7, 1923, in Grant Parish, Louisiana. He was one of twelve children of Richard Brown, Sr. and Irene Rhodes. He attended Dry Prong High School (now Grant High School) in Dry Prong, Louisiana.
Brown served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After the war, Brown enrolled at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, from which he received his Bachelor of Science in 1949 and a Master of Education degree in 1956.
Career
From 1960 to 1974, Brown owned W. K. Brown Insurance Agency in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish.
In 1960, Brown was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, succeeding Willard L. Rambo. He served until 1972 and was succeeded by Richard S. Thompson. His service corresponded with the administrations of Governors Jimmie Davis and John J. McKeithen. Brown represented only Grant Parish from 1960 to 1968, at which time each Louisiana parish had at least one representative regardless of population.
In his first term, Brown defeated in the 1959 primary election his fellow Democrat, Billy Gene "B. G." Lutes (1931-2006) of Colfax, later a district attorney and state court judge. In his final term from 1968 to 1972, however, Brown was paired with colleagues T. C. Brister, R. W. "Buzzy" Graham, and Robert J. Munson, from a combined Grant-Rapides district. Then single-member districts were created in 1972, Brown was succeeded in the House by Richard S. Thompson of Colfax, the seat of Grant Parish.
From 1974 to 1977, Brown headed the manpower program of the Rapides Parish Police Jury. Thereafter, from 1977 to 1984, he was a special assistant to the Louisiana Superintendent of Education.
Death
Brown died from Alzheimer's disease on July 13, 2011, at the Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, at the age of 88. He was interred with full military honors on July 18, 2011, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Ball north of Pineville, Louisiana.