At this time, our little magazine does not give out a lifetime achievement award. If we did, it would be given to a person who had made outstanding and sustained contributions during his lifetime to his community though exemplary professional practice and leadership.  If I were to honor such a person, my first choice would be Jay Brown.

J.W. Brown of Crossville is known to many people for many things. I first met him, like most people, at First National Bank, but I got to know him after he had retired. I used to enjoy going to the Dairy Queen on Main Street to drink coffee with my late father-in-law, Burton Ingram. It was there I got to know Jay better.

Jay is a very nice man. There is just no better way to say it. He is pleasant and friendly whenever you see him. He still drinks coffee at the DQ, but I don’t see him as often and I miss that.

Jay will forever be connected to Cumberland Medical Center,where he served as chairman on their board ofdirectors.Before he retired, he had served in that position since Nov. 6, 1967. There’s a record not likely to be broken.

This board membership has turned over a number of times in the 43 years, and each board member continued to select Jay as chairman of their board. “It’s quite an accomplishment,” said Ed Anderson, vice-chairman.

Brown’s lengthy stint at that post earned him the prestigious Meritorious Service Award for Governance by the Tennessee Hospital Association. “Mr. Brown’s priority was always doing what was best for the hospital and the community,” said Dr. Barry Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of CMC. “With his leadership and healthcare expertise, he led the hospital through many difficult times, and we are thankful for his unwavering loyalty and dedication.”

Mr. Brown was surprised when he entered the CMC boardroom to conduct his final meeting as chairman back in July of 2010 and was greeted by family members, the Mayor, department heads, and others – all gathered to recognize him for the job he had done for CMC for over 40 years.

He has been honored and stories have been written about him in the local media, but I wanted to remind people that a man like Brown doesn’t come through every day. If we had a lifetime achievement award, he would surely get it.

Jay also served as CEO and President of Highland Federal Savings and Loan Association, and Chairman of the Board of First National Bank (now Regions Bank). He has served on many other boards, from the Playhouse to the Boy Scouts to Roane State and beyond. The list of organizations he has worked with would fill up this page.

Jay and wife Diane are the parents of the late Carol Brown Darling, who, as a member and chairman of the Art Circle Public Library Board of Trustees, paved the way for the new 30,000-square-foot library.  Without her work to procure funding, donations and approval, the project may never have been started. For this work, Darling was named the 2009 Trustee of the Year by the Tennessee Library Association.

Today, the Browns live in the Tansi community and Jay can still be found drinking coffee at the Dairy Queen.