Submitted Content

Paul 'Bud' Brown was top LHS athlete, community servant

Posted April 11, 2018 11:00 pm

By Dale Eggert on behalf of Libertyville High School

1940 Libertyville High School grads Paul Brown and his high school sweetheart and future wife, Marcella Kunke. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.

Paul "Bud" Brown was a 1940 LHS graduate. During his time at Libertyville, he was a star athlete, active in the band and orchestra, and was the senior class president. Other than spending time in the Army after high school, Brown never left Libertyville, where he was always giving back his time to the community.

Brown was a three-sport athlete. His top sport was football, where he was a two-year starter as a running back. He earned All-County honors as a junior on the 1938 conference championship team. His senior year he was named to the All-State team. In basketball, Brown was a starting guard as a senior. He wasn't a high scorer, but was praised by coach Art Bergstrom for his ballhandling and defensive play.

In track, Brown was the team's best shot and discus thrower. He also ran the 220-yard dash and was on the 880-yard relay team, placing in the county in all events. If the team's top weight man is also a top sprinter, you know you have a standout football player. For his athletic efforts, Brown was named the Newsom Award winner as the top athlete of the senior class.

Not attending college after high school, Brown took a job as a butcher at the A&P. He married his high school sweetheart, Marcella Kunke, that year. Pearl Harbor occurred two weeks after their wedding and Brown enlisted in the Army shortly after.

In his time in the Army, Brown served in the European Theater as a sergeant in the 100th Division, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star. He was a member and past commander of the American Legion Post 329, as well as the Libertyville VFW.

After he returned from serving in the Army, Brown spent his career with the Hubbell Corporation of Mundelein. He served as a plant manager, and later as vice president. He found time to volunteer with the Libertyville Fire Department from 1954-79, finishing his 25-year fire department career with the rank of deputy chief.

In addition to Paul and Marcella having their two children, Cliff ('68 grad) and Lori ('72 grad) attend LHS, Paul served on the Libertyville High School Board of Education from 1966-71. The board's biggest accomplishment during his time was directing the 1971 additions of the pool, auditorium and field house. He was a member of the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society, a role in which Lori is now serving.

Paul Brown as a fall 1939 All-State football player. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

The LHS Class of 1940 senior class officers. Paul Brown is the class president, second from left. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

At left, the 1967 LHS school board. Paul Brown is top row, far left. Robert Harger, father of former Libertyville Mayor Jeff Harger, is to Paul's right. At right, the 1967 school board in action; Paul Brown is in the middle. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

The biggest accomplishment during Paul Brown's time on the LHS school board was directing the 1971 addition of the pool, auditorium and field house. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

Four generations of Libertyville Fire Department firefighters. In this 2000 picture, Paul Brown is sitting down with his grandson, Christopher Adams, a current full-time employee, and son-in-law Craig Adams, a volunteer, behind him. Paul is holding up a 1915 picture of his father, Ernest, during his time as a Libertyville Fire Department volunteer. Courtesy of Lori Adams

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