{ IN MEMORIAM } JOHN E. BROWN JR., the second president of JBU, passed away June 3, 2011. He was 89. Born Aug. 1, 1921, Brown graduated from JBU in 1942. He trained as a naval pilot and later served at sea with the Pacific Fleet during World War II. He was on the USS Ancon and the USS Eldorado. He received the American Area Asiatic-Pacific Area star, the Philippine Liberation award, and the World War II Victory medal. He was also at NACSB Atlanta, NAS Beaufort, SC and CASCU Coronado, California. He returned to JBU after the war and was appointed JBU’s vice president by John Brown Sr. in 1946. Brown succeeded his father as president of JBU in 1948, when he was just 26, making him, like his father had once been, the youngest university president in America. He received an honorary doctorate from Biola University in 1952. In 1954, Texas Wesleyan College also awarded him an honorary doctorate. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from JBU in 1993. During his tenure as president, Brown pushed high academic standards, leading to JBU’s accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1962. Brown also was responsible for the introduction of intercollegiate athletics at JBU and was a lifetime fan of JBU Golden Eagle basketball, rarely missing home games. Under Brown, enrollment increased steadily, and the Honors Program was founded in 1961. Brown was given the honorary title of Chancellor in 1987, which is how most students knew him for the past few decades. Brown was honored with JBU’s Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1999. He was active in Rotary and was named Pioneer Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce. He married Louise Randolph on May 21, 2006. He was married to Caroline (Trahin)
Brown from Nov. 23, 1941 until she died on Jan. 28, 2005. He is survived by Louise of the home, five children, Karen Wilt, John Brown III and wife Stephania, Melinda Pollock, Julie Lolley and husband Mikel, Laurie Wilkinson and husband Burt, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. GLENN COATES ’63, age 71, passed away on June 13, 2011. He was born on Oct. 8, 1940 in Springfield, Ohio. After graduating from JBU with a degree in English, he taught high school English and completed a Master of Science in Secondary Education. He spent 30 years teaching at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay. He is survived by his children Keith Coates, Shannon Coates Dana Morrison, Amber Coates and former wife Barbara Greiner Coates ’63. TROY ENGLISH ’96, age 38, passed away on Sept. 10, 2011, after being diagnosed with non-smokers terminal lung cancer in March of 2009. He was born on February 23, 1973 in Washington, D.C. Troy received a B.A. in Physical Education and Health from JBU before working as a trainer in a fitness center in Oklahoma. Later on, Troy was employed by AdvanceMed Handford. He is survived by his wife Steffani Trammel English `96 and their children Christopher English, Sylas English and Taryn English. ADALENE (PEACE) FELTS ’43, age 88, passed away on July 12, 2011. She was born on Sept. 16, 1922, in Stonington, Co. She earned a degree in home economics. She was an expert in caring for flowers as well as arranging them. After finishing her college degree in elementary education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Ok., she taught the fifth and fourth grades for nearly 20 years at Boulevard Elementary School in Colombia, Mo. She was preceded in death by her husband Doil
Felts. Adalene is survived by her children Marcia Odman, Edley Felts and John Felts and seven grandchildren. BONNIE FORD ’85, age 48, passed away on May 5, 2011, after battling ovarian cancer. She was born on April 4, 1963, in Greenwich, Ct. Bonnie graduated from JBU with a degree in accounting and a minor in broadcasting. She worked as a bookkeeper for Broken Hearts Ministries and then became a manager for PetSmart in GA. She was active in Southern Hope Humane Society and Homeward Bound of Ellijay, Ga. Bonnie is survived by her father Mr. & Mrs. Oliver W. (Charlene) Ford; her mother Mrs. Gayle E. Clayton; one sister Miss Karen Ford; two brothers Mr. Jonathan Ford and Mr. Douglas Ford. HENRY (GASTON) GRIGGS, age 81, was born on Dec. 25, 1930, passed away on Nov. 17, 2011. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a biology professor at JBU from 1975-1996. He was preceded in death by his wife Audrey Marlin Griggs. Gaston is survived by his children Barney Griggs and Sherrie Lewis ’89 and two grandchildren. DR. GEORGE FRANKLIN IVEY ’38, age 94, passed away on Sept. 29, 2011, after a long illness. He was born on Oct. 12, 1916, in Graceville, Fl. He received his Masters and Ph.D. in Family Counseling from Florida State University and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from JBU. Dr. Ivey served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, which included combat postings in the South Pacific and the Philippines, and reached the rank of Major. He was preceded in death by his son George Frank Ivey in 2010. He is survived by his wife Doris Ball and son David Ivey and two granddaughters.
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