Former Ohio Congressman Clarence ‘Bud’ Brown Jr. passes away at age 94

On Feb 1, 2022

Former Ohio Congressman and newspaper company owner Clarence J. “Bud” Brown Jr. passed on Jan. 26, 2022, at the age of 94.

Brown, a resident of Urbana in Champaign County, served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republican was first elected to office on Nov. 2, 1965, and served Ohio’s 7th House District until Jan. 3, 1983. He was succeeded by Mike DeWine as representative of the 7th District.

Gov. DeWine released a statement Thursday to commemorate Brown’s passing.

“Fran and I were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our friend, Bud Brown,” DeWine said. “It was my honor to succeed Congressman Brown as the Representative from the old 7th Congressional District. Bud had represented the District for 17 years, caring deeply about the District and his constituents. He listened to them, and every day, he worked to try and take care of their problems. He had an amazing constituent services team.

“Bud was one of the leading Republican voices in Congress on energy policy and on economic policy. He understood the importance of cutting government waste and useless regulations, as well as cutting taxes to stimulate economic growth,” DeWine added.

Following Brown’s career in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Ronald Reagan appointed him to serve as United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce, a position he held from 1983 to 1988. During that time, he also served as acting United States Secretary of Commerce, from July to October 1987.

He made an unsuccessful bid to become governor of Ohio, losing to Richard Celeste in 1982.

Brown’s father, Clarence J. Brown Sr., was the 7th District representative from 1939 until his death in 1965. Brown succeeded his father as representative of the district.

“Having succeeded his dad in office after he had served 27 years in Congress, both Bud and his father were dedicated public servants, working tirelessly to help people in Ohio and the nation,” DeWine said.