Jack Brown passes away

[jdean]

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

I knew Jack back when I was at WBAP-TV. Truly one of the best writers, reporters, and interesting communicators I ever met or saw. Alot of us around here recall the days of narrated 16mm newsreels with no anchors - only the voice of Jack Brown hosting "The Texas News". And it worked. One of a kind, and he was a good guy. Jack was 73.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Jack could tell a story like no other. When he defected to Channel 4 in 1980, I thought it was a little beneath his talents to be relegated to three-minute features that were better suited for Bob Phillips and "4/8/Texas Country Reporter"...but he certainly carved a niche there, and will be forever remembered for his folksy take on Texas life. I have one of his last features he did for Channel 5 on tape, c. 1979, where he challenged Miller Beer on their new pull-tab-less beer cans...reminiscent of the old DP cans of the 60s, where you pushed a button to release pressure, then used your thumb to push down the opening for the mouthpiece--and you ended up with your thumb getting wet inside the beer can. The concept was not well received by the public. It was a great tongue-in-cheek piece, that ended with Jack firing up a chain saw to cut off the top of the beer can. Classic.

One regret I have is not being able to go with Jack, Russ Bloxom, Roy Eaton and some other former Ch 5 anchors to see the premiere of "Anchorman." What a hoot that would have been, seeing their reactions, but I had to work that afternoon.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

We are missing the true greats in DFW TV lately. From handing the proverbial torch to Mr. Weather all night in Dungan to the mystical auspex in Jack. Mike, you are so right. The man could paint a picture with words and it came true in your own imagination. What a legendary view he brought to the news and to his own editorials.

Godspeed.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Nice funeral, far as funerals go...lots of KDFW people there, like Clarice, Richard Ray, Fil Alvarado and Shaun Rabb. Not many Channel 5 folks; longtime photographer Jimmy Darnell was there and surely some others I didn't recognize. Former KDFW reporter Ed Dalheim (80-85) attended as well. Strangely enough, the one feature of Jack's they talked about was the very one from my earlier post...the beer can! (It was Coors, by the way, not Miller.)

And, of course, the same sentiment I hear at every media person's funeral was heard once again...'We only ever see each other at funerals...why don't we ever get people together before they're gone?' Not one to preach, but folks, think about that--and let's get some people together BEFORE they die, ok? Just an impromptu lunch like we do for the radio people.

 

[easttxtv]

'We only ever see each other at funerals...why don't we ever get people together before they're gone?' Not one to preach, but folks, think about that--and let's get some people together BEFORE they die, ok?

Truer words were never spoken Mike....unfortunately too many of us non-media types also suffer from this. At my mother's funeral in April, the majority of folks at the cemetery were family/relateds/connecteds that I had not seen in *many* years, a few of which I may not see again before they're gone...

R.I.P., Mr. Brown. As much as I hate to say it, I'm afraid your position will go unfilled in this market for now, if not ever.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

East, I am pretty sure it's ever.

Give KDFW credit. They try to continue the spirit of Jack with Richard Ray's "Lone Star" travels, but you stopped down for "The Texas News". Richard gets third segment billing on a Sunday afternoon.

He was a pioneer in this market.

 

[Steve Eberhart]

One of my favorite Jack Brown stories was on the subject of a law suit filed by Bill Camfield and his "Icky Twerp" character. Apparently some guy was going around town saying HE was "Icky" and charging to appear at parties, etc. The REAL Icky (Bill) sued him to make him stop.
Jack's story chronicled the trials events complete with "artist rendering" from court which featured a drawing of "stick men" and graphics done in crayon! At the point where Camfield was asked to identify the subject of this impersonation , the "stick man" was shown pointing to the defendant, with the voiceover from Jack in his deep drawl saying in monotone: "...pure courtroom drama..."
CLASSIC.