George Brown, Colorado Lt. Governor from 1975-1979, died on 30 March 2006 in Florida. Mr. Brown was the first black person to win a statewide office in Colorado and the nation’s first black lieutenant governor.

According to his World War II Enlistment Record [1], George L. Brown was born 1 July 1926 in Kansas. He served in pilot training during WWII.

When the 1930 U.S. Census was taken in April of 1930, George was living in Kansas City, Missouri with his parents, George L. and Alberta H. Brown and sister, Herriet. The family rented a house in the 11th ward at 1931 Mongall, paying $25 a month for rent. [2]

  • Brown, George L., age 24, born Kansas, parents born Kansas
  • Brown, Alberta H., age 26, born Kansas, father born Louisiana, mother born Texas.
  • Brown, George L. Jr., age 3, born Kansas.
  • Brown, Herriett M., age 1, born Missouri.[2]

George’s father, who was a porter for a Recreation Hall, married at the age of 19 and his mother, Alberta, married when she was 21.

Before going into politics, George Jr. was a reporter and a city editor for the Denver Post.

While serving as Lt. Governor, he pardoned an inmate while Governor Lamm was out of state. Sylvester Lee Garrison, who was serving a life sentence for murder, had his pardon rescinded when Lamm returned to Colorado.

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[1] National Archives and Records Administration, “World War II Army Enlistment Records ca. 1938 - 1946,” database, National Archives and Records Administration (http://aad.archives.gov/aad/: 5 April 2006), for George L. Brown, Jr.
[2] George L. Brown household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri, E.D. 48-161, page 8B, dwelling 163, family 157; National Archives microfilm T626, roll 1199. Digital image at Ancestry.com.