Arthur "Art" Webster BROWN

BROWN, OCONNOR

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/5/2006 at 02:20:40

Visionary Shared Big Dreams for New Mexico
Art Brown

Art Brown's vision was to develop west of Albuquerque to the Rio Puerco, but it didn't happen during his career. Still, the longtime West Side real estate developer helped fulfill the dream of a Yugoslavian refugee who faced deportation and certain death. Brown, who had lived in Albuquerque for more than 50 years, suffered a series of strokes during the past two years. He died March 27 in Duluth, Minn. Brown was 87. At his request, no service will be held. His ashes will be scattered in New Mexico.

Brown was a ruddy-cheeked, gentle man who was known for his courteousness, said Jay Pozenel of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., a family friend who called him "Uncle Art." "He was a dreamer," Pozenel said. "I think he was also very optimistic about people's good nature and about the future of the city. He loved New Mexico passionately." In the 1950s, Brown took a leadership role to help Pozenel's late father, Bill, known then as "Albuquerque's man without a country." The elder Pozenel, a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, was facing deportation to his former homeland, Yugoslavia, because he had illegally entered the United States from Canada. Jay Pozenel said it was around the time of Sen. Joe McCarthy, who often used unfounded accusations to suppress political opponents and brand them as communists. He said Brown knew the political reality of the situation if Bill Pozenel, a vocal anti-communist, was sent back to communist-controlled Yugoslavia, he would be shot. He said Brown "started mobilizing the civic organizations," including members of the Rio Grande Lions Club, to help bring national attention to Bill Pozenel's plight. Others also joined the fight, including the media and New Mexico congressmen. In the end, the combined effort put political pressure on the federal government. Pozenel was finally granted political asylum, permanent residency and citizenship. Brown worked with television personality Ralph Edwards, who aired Pozenel's story on the show, "This is Your Life." "Obviously, my father adored (Brown)," he said. "Essentially, he was my surrogate grandfather because my father's parents died in the war." Pozenel said that, even though some of his most ambitious projects never developed, Brown was still considered the "champion of Albuquerque's West Side." "Despite the fact that he didn't make much money, he held fast to his vision," Pozenel said. "He was probably 100 years ahead of his time." He said Brown built various strip centers and small land development projects. Some of Brown's dreams included:

* A community west of Albuquerque near the Rio Puerco.

* An "Old West" town or at least one street of it and a sound stage near the Rio Puerco to attract moviemakers to Albuquerque. Brown told the Journal he was also thinking of luring tourists to the area with a dude ranch, resort hotel, golf course, small airport and, maybe, a vineyard.

* The "Enchilada Express," a train serving tourists and commuters from Santa Fe to Belen.

Born Arthur Webster Brown in Dows, Iowa, he was the son of a railroad official.He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and rose to the rank of master sergeant. He met Bess O'Connor while stationed in Florida. They were married for more than 50 years. She died about a year ago. The Browns did not have children. Brown served as executive director of the New Mexico Business Association, chairman of the Area Planning Advisory Committee and president of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Lions Club.

BROWN: 50-year resident of Albuquerque

Albuquerque Journal (NM)
April 20, 2002