Father Of Slain UT-Austin Student Harrison Brown Passes Away In North Texas

AUSTIN, TX — The father of the UT-Austin freshman killed after a knifing attack on campus last month has died, according to an obituary notice from a North Texas funeral home.

Surrounded by members of his family, Dr. Kurt Brown, 56, died on Monday at his home in Graham, Texas, according to the notice. His late son, Harrison Brown, grew up in the town of Graham, as several childhood friends attested during a May vigil staged on campus grounds in his honor that was attended by thousands of his peers.

At that vigil, UT-Austin President Gregory L. Fenves related how the younger Brown, 19, and his older brother lifted their father from his wheelchair to help him cross the finish line during a charity walk benefiting amyotrophic laterals scleroris (ALS). The elder Brown suffered from ALS, a rare group of neurological diseases mainly involving the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling muscle movement.

"It was a gesture of love but also a gesture of defiance," Fenves said at the vigil. "This disease would not destroy the three of them."

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According to the funeral notice, the elder Brown, a chiropractor, had battled ALS for the past two years before passing away on Monday. The funeral notice describes a modest, unassuming man who would eschew personal superlatives in the final accounting of his life.

“If Kurt Brown could speak to us today he would not ask for a glowing obituary,” the notice reads. “He would refuse to allow his name spread over the pages of his own home newspaper. He genuinely disliked personal publicity and consistently evaded the limelight. Kurt was a man who lived by the side of the road and watched the race of man go by.”

The elder Brown donated his body for scientific research, with arrangements made with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, according to the notice. He is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Lori Graham, son John Brown and daughter-in-law Allie of San Antonio and a grandson, William Kurt Brown.

Also surviving him are his mother, Diane Brown of San Antonio (formerly of Wichita Falls); his brothers Kent Brown, Mark Brown and wife Marilyn, all of Wichita Falls; brother King Brown and his wife Maria of Tucson, Ariz.; by his sister Kelly Requa and husband Larry of San Antonio; and several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

In what could be seen as a final homage to his son, the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be can be made to the Harrison Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund at Cierra Bank, 623 Elm St., Graham, Texas, 76540. But those wishing to send flowers still have time to do so for a scheduled rosary taking place at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 7 p.m. on June 8, according to the notice. The church is located at 1218 Rodgers Dr. in Graham, 76450.

The younger Brown died May 1 after being stabbed outside the university gym by fellow student Kendrex White, who has since been charged with murder in the death while awaiting trial at the Travis County Jail.

>>> Photo of Dr. Kurt Brown via Morrison Funeral Home, photo of Harrison Brown via Everipedia