1960 President Franklin Monroe Brown

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Franklin Monroe Brown was born in Goshen, Oregon, on May 19, 1913. His father was Allen Monroe Brown who married Mable Susan Askew. He was a foreman with the Southern Pacific Co. After completing high school, Franklin attended the Oregon Institute of Technology and then the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute.

1960 - FRANKLIN MONROE BROWN

Franklin and Ardna were married June 26, 1946, and they have three children: Richard Alan, 1948; Robert Monroe, 1950; and Joanne Mauree, 1964.

Franklin indicates that he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, his political affiliation is with the Republican Party, and he is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. His occupation as an engineer has been with these companies:

  • 1940-1941 Electrical engineer, Klamath Iron Works, Klamath Falls, Ore

  • 1941-1949 President &, Chief engineer, BECO, Portland, Oregon

  • 1949-1953 President & Chief Engineer, Brown Electro-Measurement Corp.

  • 1954-1957 Research Director, OECO Corporation, Portland, Oregon

  • 195B-1960 President & Chief Engineer, Hinco, Inc., Portland, Oregon

  • 1960-1964 Senior engineer & Chief Engineer, Fluke Mfg. Co., Seattle

  • 1965-1970 Chief Engineer, President, ARCO Inc., Kirkland, Washington

  • 1970     President & Chief Engineer, General Metrology Corp, Seattle

Franklin Brown is the author of several Military Technical Manuals, and papers relating to the theory and operation of various electronic equipment and components. He has also issued several patents in the fields of mechanical and electronic devices.

Franklin became interested in the earth sciences as early as the 7th grade in school although he remembers an extensive agate collection that started when he was in the second grade in a school in the Rogue River Valley near upper "Table Rock." The contemplation of the origin of the "Tables" in the Rogue River Valley was most intriguing. Crater Lake was also fascinating to him. His other hobbies have been astronomy and photography.

In about 1936 several papers by Professor Warren D. Smith of the University of Oregon came to his attention and renewed his interest in geology. In the early 1940's the book, The Scenic Treasure House of Oregon turned him into a "geological explorer." He became a member of the Society in 1955 and soon learned "to appreciate the friendship and many sources of knowledge within the Society."

His theme during his presidency was "Be thankful for the help you get from the 'Old Timers' for because of them you leave a meeting richer than you came." He was field trip chairman for three years (rained out only once) and served as president from March to July of I960 when the Browns moved to Edmonds, Washington.