The Hiram C. Brown, Sr. Memorial and Donaldson Brown Memorial Scholarship

Hiram C. Brown, Sr. was a life-long resident of Cecil County, Maryland and a 1987 graduate of Cecil College, who left an indelible mark, as both a highly successful musician/pianist and as a dedicated advocate for social services.
As an artist, he worked with and developed relationships with some of the most renowned musicians in the industry, while also serving as a mentor to a number of musicians. Mr. Brown also ran his own music promotions business.
Beyond the world of music, Mr. Brown was also committed to improving the lives of others, as a social services employee for the State of Maryland. He devoted his time to helping families in need, consistently bringing a sense of care and compassion to the many lives that he touched through his position.
Mr. Brown’s legacy in the music world and within his community will continue to live on, through the countless individuals that he mentored and lives within the community he touched.

Frank Donaldson Brown was born in Baltimore on February 1, 1885. He was second youngest of 13 children. He began his studies at Virginia Agriculture and Mechanical College and what is now Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. He was very young when he started college and received his degree in 1902 when he was 17 years old with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He remains the youngest graduate of the university.
He began work at Dupont as an explosive salesman. He created for Dupont a formula on Return of Investment, which he has been honored for. His career began advancing and he became treasurer of Dupont and later vice president of finance of General Motors. He played a major role in GM working through worker strikes during the depression.
The Browns raised six children and bought Mt. Ararat farm in Port Deposit, MD in 1936. The estate was 750 acres with a dairy farm and a Federal-style home for $250,000. Mr. Brown built a mansion on the property which included 40 rooms, a stream fed built in pool, and landscaping. Mt. Ararat farm sits 200 feet above the Susquehanna river. Mr. Brown died in 1965 and willed the property to the University of Maryland. The property is mainly used for conferences, weddings and special events.