Dorsey Tyrone Brown

The spirited and kind-hearted Dorsey Tyrone Brown entered the world March 4, 1966. Born to Dorothy English Brown and William Murray Brown in Los Angeles, CA, he was the youngest of their two children. Making Terri an excited big sister, she couldn’t run home from school fast enough the day Dorsey came home from the hospital!

Dorsey accepted Christ as a child and attended Figueroa Church of Christ during his formative years. He sang in the Little Angels Chorus. Faith was his foundation with which he built a solid relationship trusting in God. This faith relationship was encouraged through daily devotionals led by his mother prior to leaving for school. He continued in fellowship, while residing in Arizona, with a prayer group sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi, Gamma Upsilon chapter.

His formal education began in the Los Angeles Unified School District where his mother was a teacher. He excelled as a student at Menlo Avenue Elementary, Foshay Junior High School, and Manual Arts High School. A gifted athlete, many believed football was his first sports love, but in reality, it wasn’t until high school that he discovered his talent for the sport. While getting in shape for basketball season, a coach invited him to try out for the football team. To his surprise, he was placed on the Varsity Toilers as a freshman and played tight end and middle linebacker. He ultimately became the Defense Captain and was a major contributor to the team’s back-to-back City Championships in 1983 and 1984.

Upon graduation from Manual, Dorsey matriculated to Arizona State University on a football scholarship. While at ASU, Dorsey was a member of the Sun Devils’ 1987 Rose Bowl Championship team. He also found a brotherhood off the football field, pledging the Gamma Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. “Little Brother Care Bear” crossed the sands November 19, 1988 as “Big Brother D- Bone.”

Dorsey graduated from Arizona State University in 1989 with a BA in Sociology. Throughout his tenure as a student he was recognized as a Scholar Athlete and was presented one of three awards for Positive Life Choices during the graduation ceremony. Dorsey was a lifelong learner and he continued to pursue knowledge and certifications in other areas. He earned his stockbroker's license and later earned other business licenses while working with Primerica. A natural teacher and motivator, Dorsey earned his teaching credential. He went to work for the Arizona Boys Ranch in Queen Creek, Arizona. At the time of his passing, he was employed by the Rio Solana Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. He enjoyed working with and positively influencing young people.

Dorsey had many interests, hobbies, and an entrepreneurial spirit. He loved candy, fishing, music, and sports. His gift of gab allowed him to become a masterful broker of sorts. As a young man, he played piano and excelled as a trumpet player. He was the envy of school band members who could never bump him from the “first chair.” As an adult, he took his love of music to another level. He began writing music and co-founded Long Time Coming, a music Production company in Phoenix, Arizona. He kept busy with a multitude of side gigs--some of which included transporting tourists around ASU on a rickshaw bicycle, making his ‘famous’ chili for a deli, managing a customer service team, helping a friend run a car auction/sales business, liquidating pallets of items, and “offering up” goods.

People, however, were Dorsey’s passion—young and old, rich, poor, and in between. He connected with people from ALL walks of life; he never met a stranger. He had a heart for people and their well-being; he elevated others before promoting himself. He was a true humanitarian. Dorsey invested time volunteering at food banks and churches, serving those in need of a home-cooked meal. He used his resources to purchase meals for those with appetites and no food to eat. He would often encourage others to do the same.

Dorsey LOVED his family and was proud of his heritage. He proudly shared his experiences of time spent in Arkansas and the lessons he learned there about soil, plants, animal care, identifying and properly handling snakes and guns. He even learned how to drive in the south at the age of 12! These lessons came from his elders which included his grandfather English, uncles C.R., Jim, Bobby, and Eddie and aunts Loretta and Carol.

Dorsey leaves a legacy of kindness and goodwill for all to emulate. We will miss his good humor and generous spirit. Welcoming him to paradise were his parents, William and Dorothy Brown; grandparents, William and June Brown (Los Angeles, CA; Clarence and Alpha English (Menifee, Arkansas).

Cherishing his memory are: a loving big sister, Terri Lynne Brown (Los Angeles, CA); eldest sister, Verida Glenn (Marvin Sr.) and nephew Marvin Jr., (Las Vegas, Nevada); a Goddaughter, Jonah Lee Boyd (Encinitas, CA); a Godson, Langston C. White (Seabrook, TX); the English and Brown Families; The Bugg Family, the Figueroa Church of Christ family; the Manual Arts Toiler Nation; the Sun Devils of ASU; the Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, and countless friends and loved ones.

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