Tuskegee Airmen Foundation

Captain Roscoe Conkling Brown, Jr. refused to let racism stand in the way of his success. He was a trailblazer in multiple fields, a decorated military veteran, a college president, and a media personality who devoted his life to visionary public service. He is widely regarded as one of the country's most distinguished African American advocates. Born in Washington D.C., Dr. Brown attended Dunbar High School before earning his bachelor's degree from Springfield College in 1943. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces and graduated from the legendary Tuskegee Flight School in 1944. Captain Brown served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe during the Second World War as a squadron commander, flying 68 combat missions. Captain Brown was the first American pilot to shoot down a German jet, a Messerschmitt Me-262, in air-to-air combat, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters. President Harry S. Truman's decision to integrate the armed forces in 1948 was influenced by the service and sacrifice of the Tuskegee Airmen. After the war, Dr. Brown wanted to pursue a career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines but was denied the job due to discrimination. Undaunted, he went back to school earning an M.A. and Ph.D. in Education from New York University. He went on to become a professor, director of the African American Institute, and finally the president of Bronx Community College of The City University of New York (CUNY). After his 16-year tenure as president, he created the Center for Urban Education Policy at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center, and served as its director until 1993. Dr. Brown was also a leading community figure, serving on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including the American Council on Education, the YMCA of Greater New York, the Fund for the City of New York, the New York Botanical Garden, and the City Parks Foundation. He was also Chairman of the Greater Harlem Nursing Home, the Sports Foundation, and president of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. Dr. Brown was appointed by the governor to the New York State Job Training and Partnership Council and the New York State Health, Fitness, and Sports Council. He chaired the Urban Issues Group, a think tank devoted to the concerns of the African American community. Throughout his life, Dr. Brown was recognized for his achievements and contributions. He received numerous awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal. He also became the first African American president of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for College Men. Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr. passed away in 2016 at the age of 96, but his legacy lives on. His lifetime of service and sacrifice in the fight for freedom, civil rights, and the virtues of higher learning. His life has inspired future generations to aspire to greatness and fulfill their dreams.