William Moseley Brown, considered to be one of the three most influential students involved in the creation of Omicron Delta Kappa, was a native of Lynchburg, Virginia. While enrolled at Washington and Lee University, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, as well as Phi Beta Kappa. Brown was also a debater and a student instructor in German. Like Rupert Nelson Latture, he also served as president of the YMCA.
Following his undergraduate career, he went onto serve in both World War I and World War II. As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Brown and his wife, Gloria, are both buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Brown served as Omicron Delta Kappa’s national president from 1922 to 1925, and he twice served as the organization’s executive secretary. He first held the role from 1916-20 and again from 1924-37.
Brown was considered by many to be the most notable George Washington scholar of his time. He taught at Columbia, Washington and Lee University, George Washington, and Elon universities as well as at the University of Guadalajara. Brown also served as president of Atlantic University, the Virginia Academy of Science, and president of the Association of Virginia Colleges.
He was a prominent Virginia Mason and ran for governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia as an independent in 1929. He was also a candidate for Congress in 1932. He also worked as a newspaper correspondent, as a staff member for the Committee for National Morale, and as a research associate for the National Committee on Law Observance and Enforcement. At one time, Brown as also the director of educational and personnel research at Vick Chemical Company of New York.
Brown died in 1966 in Florida. He was 71.
Sources
Nichols, Michael. (2014). The Laurel Crowned Circle: Omicron Delta Kappa and 100 Years of Leadership. Omicron Delta Kappa. Lexington, Va.
Omicron Delta Kappa. (1939). Commemorating the Silver Anniversary: Omicron Delta Kappa Fraternity 1914 – 1939.
