PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Former Owens Community College president Daniel H. Brown has died, the school announced Monday.
Brown was named the third president of Owens in August 1984 before retiring in 2001. He died Wednesday, Oct. 2 at age 89.
According to Owens, Brown began working at the school in 1966, holding a variety of roles before becoming president.
Owens CC said Brown advanced the college's technology programs through partnerships and new construction. The college said he also enhanced the arts and sciences programs for expanded access.
“President Brown and his wife, Nancy, attended the grand opening of our Dana Center in 2021. They were so kind to me and were interested about the new advanced manufacturing training center,” current Owens president Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “We are saddened to learn of his passing and extend our condolences to his family."
“President Brown leaves behind a profound and lasting legacy at Owens Community College. We will always be grateful for his vision, his commitment and his impact,” Somerville added,
Under his leadership, Owens said the college grew "exponentially," expanding the Toledo-area campus and adding the Findlay-area campus. Owens said five buildings were constructed while Brown was president, including the Student Health and Activities Center.
Owens said he shifted financial support to help Owens Express teams grow and succeed. According to the school, women's basketball, volleyball, men's soccer and softball were added in the 1990s, in addition to the already existing men's basketball.
Owens said Brown was inducted into the Owens Express Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Dan Brown was the biggest fan of the Owens Express,” said Jim Welling, a former men’s basketball coach said. “He attended every game that he could. He made sure we had the resources we needed to succeed. He knew the players. He knew the players’ families.
“He always came through for what we needed in athletics. He was a tireless worker. He was not only a great administrator; he was a great friend. He will be missed by everyone who knew him,” Welling added.
In 1994, Brown was "instrumental" in transitioning Owens from a technical college to a comprehensive community college. As president, Owens enrollment grew from approximately 4,500 in the first year of his presidency to 17,000 at his retirement, according to the school.
“President Brown was the type of leader who you wanted to follow. You liked working with him,” said Ronald A. McMaster, a member of the Owens Community College Foundation board who served on the Owens Board of Trustees from 1993-2018. “He was confident, decisive and driven. If you want to talk about a legacy, President Brown was instrumental in building the foundation of what Owens Community College is today.”
According to Brown's obituary, he earned degrees from both Ohio Northern University and the University of Toledo. Brown's obituary can be found here.
