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Harold W. “Bus” Brownell (1900-1984)

Home...BiographiesHarold W. “Bus” Brownell (1900-1984)

Harold W. "Bus" Brownell (1900-1984)

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    1952
A copy of the following unidentified newspaper article was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:

    HAROLD BROWNELL, OF BELANGER IMPLEMENTS, WINS TRIP TO BERMUDA

    Mr. and Mrs. Harold Brownell left yesterday, Nov. 9 for the Island of Bermuda, famed vacationland. "Bus," a super salesman for the Belanger Farm Equipment Company, won the trip for himself and wife, Katie, who is bookkeeper for Belanger's, by selling the most John Deere tractors in his district.

    Flying to Bermuda from Moline, Ill., the Brownells are assured of a wonderful vacation in the company of John Deere dealers and employees from over the Midwest.

The following Nov. 28, 1984, Lowell Tribune article can be found in the Local History files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 1, page 20):

    Harold W. "Bus" Brownell, age 84, of Hernando, Fla., formerly of Lowell, passed away Fri., Nov. 23, 1984, in Crystal River, Fla. He is survived by one daughter, Kathrine Jean (Bill) Metzger of Dunlap, Ill.; one grandson, and one sister, Marguerite Carter of East Chicago. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wed., Nov. 28, at the Sheets-Love Funeral Home in Lowell, with Rev. W. Lynn Henry officiating. Burial will follow at Lowell Cemetery. Friends may call from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the funeral home chapel. Indiana Vol. Firefighters' Assn. services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. followed by Masonic services at 8 p.m. Harold Brownell was a retired employee of Belenger Farm Equipment Co., a World War I military veteran, and a charter member and past commander of American Legion Post 101 in Lowell, He was a life member and past master of Colfax Masonic Lodge #378 of Lowell, and a member of the Hammond Orak Shrine. He was a 48-year member and 30-year chief of the Lowell Vol. Fire Dept., and a two-term member of the Lowell Town Board (1960-67). He was elected the first president of the Indiana Vol. Firefighters Assn. in 1945, and continued to carry membership card No. 1 as a life member. Donations may be made to the Lowell Vol. Fire Dept.
The following Nov. 28, 1984, Lowell Tribune article can be found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 1, page 45):

    Former Fire Chief "Bus" Brownell Dies

    Harold W. "Bus" Brownell, who served for 30 years as Lowell fire chief, died last week at the age of 84.
    Brownell, who had resided recently in Hernando, Florida, died Nov. 23 in Crystal River, Florida.
    One of the founders of the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Assn. (IVFA), Brownell was a life member of the organization and carried membership card No. 1 since its incorporation in 1946. The number was retired in his name when he retired from the Lowell Volunteer Fire Dept. Dec. 31, 1968.
    "We thank and praise Bus and the other men he worked with for starting one of the finest organizations in the state today," said former Lowell Fire Chief Jack Eskridge, who conducted a IVFA service at Sheets-Love Funeral Home in Lowell Tuesday evening, Nov. 27. Eskridge said Brownell and others, including Alvin Guske of Crown Point, Roy Kittredge of Hobart, Cornelius Vandervart of Munster and Sam Ordean of Black Oak "had a dream to start an association," and did so in 1945.
    Brownell was elected the first IVFA president Aug. 23, 1945, and was instrumental in its incorporation Dec. 6, 1946.
    Born July 12, 1900, Brownell joined the fire department at age 20, in 1921, the same year he married Ella Amelia "Katie" Schneider, who preceded him in death in 1971.
    He was elected Lowell's assistant fire chief in 1938 and a year later, on Dec. 11, 1939, he was elected fire chief, a position he held until his retirement from the department. He was succeeded by Burl "Pete" Carlson.
    A World War I veteran, Brownell was a charter member of Lowell American Legion Post #101, and served as a post commander. A past master and life member of Colfax Masonic Lodge #378, he was also a member of the Hammond Orak Shrine.
    As a young man, Brownell managed a service station, but in the early 1940's, he became associated with Belenger Farm Equipment Co., the firm he stayed with until his retirement.
    A race car owner and sponsor, his boss Mr. Belenger involoved Brownell in the business of Indianapolis-type car racing, and Brownell became well known in the Indianapolis Speedway pits, especially after the Belenger 99 won the famed Indy 500 in the early 1950's.
    Brownell also served two terms on the Lowell Town Board from 1960-67, and was Town Board president three times in 1960, 1963, and 1965.
    He is survived by one daughter, Kathryn Jean (Bill) Merzger of Dunlap, Illinois, one grandson, Billy, and one sister, Marguerite Carter of East Chicago.
    Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. at Sheets-Love Funeral Home in Lowell, with Rev. W. Lynn Henry officiating. A full firefighters' salute to Brownell will include a uniformed escort to Lowell Cemetery for burial, and Brownell's casket will be transported on a 1962 Lowell fire truck that was purchased while he was fire chief and a town trustee.
    "For what he did for fire service and the Lowell community, Bus will always be remembered, and the IVFA card he carried will always signify that he was, and will always be, No. 1 to us," added Eskridge.
Last updated on June 8, 2006.

Go to Harold Brownell, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

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