Basil W. Brown (March 20, 1927 – October 30, 1997) was an American politician and lawyer. Born in

Vandalia, Michigan Vandalia is a village in Penn Township within Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area sometimes referred to as Mic ...

, Brown moved with his family to

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

. Brown graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. He served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Brown then received his bachelor's degree

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...

and his law degree from

University of Michigan Law School The University of Michigan Law School (Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a Public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of C ...

. He practiced law. From 1957 to 1988, Brown served in the

Michigan State Senate The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, ado ...

and was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. Brown resigned from the Michigan Senate in 1988 when he was arrested on drug-related charges. The

Michigan Supreme Court The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the state ...

later reversed the drug-related conviction due to entrapment concerns and the charges were later dropped. Brown died as a result of a fire at his home in

Highland Park, Michigan Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,977 at the 2020 census. Along with its neighbor of Hamtramck, Highland Park is an enclave city surrounded by the city of Detroit. History The area tha ...

and was treated for cancer.'Deaths Elsewhere-Basil Brown,' Toledo Blade (Ohio), October 31, 1997, pg. 22

Notes

1927 births 1997 deaths African-American lawyers African-American state legislators in Michigan Military personnel from Michigan United States Navy personnel of World War II People from Cass County, Michigan Western Michigan University alumni University of Michigan Law School alumni Michigan lawyers Democratic Party Michigan state senators 20th-century American politicians People from Battle Creek, Michigan People from Highland Park, Michigan Deaths from cancer in Michigan 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century African-American politicians African-American men in politics {{Michigan-politician-stub