James (Jimmy) Millard Brown, Jr.

Jim passed on January 23, 2019. Following his graduation from Baylor Military Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he enlisted in the Air Force where he rose to Staff Sergeant with the Military Police and served in London, England.

In 1953, Jim received the Queen’s Commendation Medal of Honor presented by Queen Elizabeth and was decorated by President Eisenhower for his bravery.

Following his service, Jim attended the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, married his wife Diana and, in 1965, together they founded and successfully ran Washo Industries, out of Daytona Beach, a coin-operated laundry route serving Florida’s East Coast.

An avid Master falconer, a licensed pilot, and aerobatic stunt aviator, the sky was his home. He also raised and protected big game cats and owned all manner of exotic pets like tarantulas and snakes.

After selling Washo Industries in 1981, Jim moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and became a certified blaster for Controlled Blasting, specializing in construction projects.

Subsequently, he retired to Chattanooga, where he continued to enjoy falconry, flying, and exploring the mountains and forests of his original home to gather arrowheads, old coins, civil war memorabilia, and capture rattlesnakes for their medicinal venom.

Jim is survived by his three loving children, James (Jimmy) Millard Brown, III, and his wife, Elsa Branson Brown; Joy Marzetta Brown; and Timothy Louis Brown, and his wife, Lori Anne Brown; and four granddaughters, Elsa Alexandria Brown Elmore, Sierra Joy Ghassemian, Megan Elizabeth Brown, and Delaney Grace Brown.

A Memorial Plaque will be placed on a tree planted in his honor on Signal Mountain. The family is planning a memorial service in Chattanooga on June 8, 2019. Details will be provided at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: WoundedWarriorProject.org; bigcatrescue.org; peregrinefund.org.