William T. Brown

William Travis Brown, M.D., died Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was born in Gainesville, Texas, on Sept. 8, 1928, to Imogene Sellars and Travis B. Brown, and moved to Baton Rouge in 1942. He was a graduate of Baton Rouge High School and received a bachelor of science degree from LSU in 1950. In 1953, he married Gladys Reynolds, his high school sweetheart and the love and delight of his life for 61 years. He graduated from LSU Medical School in 1954 and moved to Nashville, where he served his internship at Mid-State Baptist Hospital. He was in general practice in Baton Rouge from 1955 to 1957, after which he attended flight surgeon school at Randolph Field Air Base in San Antonio. Capt. Brown was assigned as a flight surgeon to the 461st Fighter Day Squadron in Hahn, Germany. He set up the first flight line hospital in Nourrissier, Morocco, but the highlight of his two years in the U.S. Air Force was earning his Mach buster pin as the second-seat occupant in a fighter jet. The pilot over-flew the safe zone and their jet was chased by Russian MiGs; therefore, they flew faster than the speed of sound. What a thrill for a lover of life! It was considered quite a loss when he chose to return to civilian life and start his own practice of medicine. Dr. Brown resumed his medical practice in Baton Rouge from 1957 until 1973, when he and three other physicians formed the Emergency Physicians Association and staffed the first fulltime hospital emergency room in Baton Rouge. By 1983, they were responsible for this service to nine area hospitals. He served as medical director of the Louisiana Healthcare Review Organization from 1986-1991 and was board certified in health-care peer review. Dr. Brown served as a deputy coroner for East Baton Rouge Parish for many years and his efforts initiated needed changes in policies under the jurisdiction of that office. He was instrumental in implementing the Rape Crisis Intervention Program of the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office. He realized the need and worked with the start-up of the first Rape Crisis Program at Doctors Hospital and continued the medical staffing for this "on call" program for which he received many accolades. Dr. Brown was a member of the Louisiana State and East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Societies. After retirement, he enjoyed making bread and delivering his wonderful chicken soup for the soul as he continued his calling to heal others. Through his work with the University Methodist Church, he served as a mentor for the Kids' Hope Program and as a member of the medical mission team to Mexico. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Ray Allen Brown. He is survived by his wife, Gladys, and his four children: Laurie and husband Wayne Atkinson and their three sons, Travis, Michael and Christopher; Jennie and husband Steve Navarre and daughter, Laurianna; William Travis Brown Jr. and his son, Benjamin; and Julie and husband Brian White and daughters, Jordan and Cameron. Dr. Brown loved and lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed duck hunting, playing cards, singing and whistling, dancing, a good joke, a good movie and a good scotch and soda. He never met a stranger, had no enemies and was always the life of the party. He was an extremely generous man, deeply loved by his peers, nurses and staff, friends and, most of all, his family. The family wishes to thank Dr. Kenny Cole and his staff, Dr. Mark Kantrow, Dr. Joseph Deumite, Dr. Terry Rehn, the nurses and staff at Our Lady of the Lake, numerous caring friends, lifelong family friend, Willie Veal, and especially their wonderful neighbors, Jerry and Suzette Lowe. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Friday, March 14, was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The family will hold a private burial. A memorial celebration followed by a reception will be held at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, on Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Louisiana State Medical Society Educational and Research Foundation for the benefit of medical students in need of financial assistance, 6767 Perkins Road, Suite 100, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 or to the University United Methodist Church.