John Brown (American football, born 1891)

John Herbert "Babe" Brown, Jr. (September 12, 1891 – June 10, 1963) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy during World War II and an American football player.

John Herbert Brown Jr.
Nickname(s)"Babe"
Born(1891-09-12)September 12, 1891
Canton, Pennsylvania
DiedJune 10, 1963(1963-06-10) (aged 71)
Middletown, Delaware
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1914–1954
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands heldSubmarine Training Command
Submarine Squadron 4
USS Richmond
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)

Early years

Brown was born in Canton, Pennsylvania, in 1891. He attended the United States Naval Academy where he played college football. He was selected as a consensus first-team guard on the 1913 College Football All-America Team.[1] He accounted for all of Navy's points (two field goals) in a 6 to 0 victory in the 1913 Army–Navy Game.[2]

He graduated in 1914 with the rank of ensign. Brown later served as president of the National Football Foundation and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. He was also selected in 1951 by a board of Navy football authorities as the greatest player in Navy football history.[3]

Military career

During World War I, Brown commanded the submarines USS C-2 and USS G-4. Subsequently, Brown commanded some other submarines in the interwar period. In October 1930, Brown commanded the USS V-5 submarine when it set a U. S. Navy record by diving to a depth of 332 feet.[4] He also attended the Naval War College in 1940.

During World War II, Brown rose to the rank of vice admiral and served as deputy commander of America's submarine force in the Pacific theatre. In the early 1950s, he was the commandant of the Fourth Naval District based in Philadelphia. He served a total of 43 years in the Navy before retiring in 1954.[5]

He died in 1963 at age 71 at his home in Middletown, Delaware.[6][7]

References
  1. "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 4. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  2. "Navy Honors Hall of Famers At Grid Games: John "Babe" Brown, Jr. Will Be Guest Oct. 3". The Cumberland News. August 28, 1953. p. 18.
  3. ""Babe" Brown Hailed As Naval Academy Great". The News, Newport, RI. October 9, 1951. p. 10.
  4. "Submarine V-5 Dives 332 Feet; Breaks Navy Record for Depth". The New York Times. October 22, 1930.
  5. "Rear Admiral Brown Retires". The New York Times. January 30, 1954.
  6. "Former Navy Ace Dies In Delaware". The Eagle (Texas). June 11, 1963. p. 5.
  7. "Babe Brown, Ex Navy Grid Star, Succumbs". The Fresno Bee. p. 2D.
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