“As I put on the wall of Brown Hall at CSUSB, ‘Before there can be equal opportunity in life ... there must be equal educational opportunity for all.’”
If you enjoy sitting under the shade trees on the CSUSB campus, you might want to thank Jack Brown.
For me, it started by planting trees on what was to become Cal State with the downtown San Bernardino Kiwanis club. We spent many weekends cleaning up and planting trees so when the State Education Board visited we could ensure the beautiful campus that we all now share. It is more beautiful than any of us could have dreamed.
Jack also dreamed of going to college himself, but he knew that his mother could not afford to send him.
My father died when I was eight years old so my Mother raised me alone, without any money. Just by going to work every day and setting the example for me by going to night school and business school, I learned the value of a higher education. Getting a good education was a must.
In high school, Jack excelled at football. A photograph of his football jersey is on display here. This earned him an induction into a special club at San Bernardino High School – the “Condors.” A photograph of his Condors jacket is on display here.
Condors were a mix of all races, religions, economic backgrounds. We were all brothers. We were all loyal to each other, our coaches, our high school, our parents, our neighborhoods, our city of San Bernardino, and to America.
His high school accomplishments earned him a football scholarship to San Jose State University.
Without my scholarship, there was little chance that this son of Rose Brown, an orphan and widow at 26, would have been able to attend college. My football scholarship gave me the opportunity to receive a great education at a state university.
Still, some of Jack’s greatest life lessons come not from the University, but from his mother.
My mother taught me about never giving up, no matter how hopeless things appear. And, most of all, help others along the way. Prayers help, too!
Two years in the navy enabled Jack’s further education, through the GI Bill. The experience also helped to build his leadership skills.
The more I studied, the higher I was promoted, the more responsibility I had, the better leader I became.
Jack has applied his life learnings to the supermarket industry.
When I arrived 36 years ago at Stater Bros. Supermarkets, sales were $475 million, 3,300 people worked there, and we had 79 supermarkets. Today our sales are $4.3 billion, 18,000 Stater Bros. ‘family’ members work together every day, and we have 168 supermarkets – the largest privately owned supermarket in southern California.
He reflects back on his journey to his present position.
My football scholarship, my Condor brotherhood, and my naval service altogether were footsteps along my educational pathway. I continue to learn every day and work at teaching others to work together, to support each other, to look out for each other.