From the time the Pallottine Sisters arrived in Huntington, the Right Rev. Henry B. Altmeyer, the pastor of St. Joseph's Parish, took a great interest in their undertaking. But surely one of his greatest services to the fledgling hospital was introducing the Sisters to Herman M. Brown.

For more than 25 years, Brown would be a major figure in Huntington's growth and development – and one of the best friends St. Mary's was ever fortunate enough to have.

In the hospital's earliest years, the hard-working Brown assisted the Sisters in countless ways, helping them with the many problems, emergencies and difficulties they encountered. He seemed to know everybody who was anybody in the community and often could get things done that the Sisters feared might be impossible.

Born at Liberty, Virginia, on May 25, 1884, Brown attended St. Andrew's School in Roanoke, leaving at age 16 to work in a foundry and blacksmith shop. He moved on to successfully complete an apprenticeship as a machinist with the Norfolk & Western Railway. He later worked in the auto industry, which then was just beginning. Joining the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, he held a number of

increasingly important posts before being named superintendent of the C&O shops in Huntington.

In 1920, Brown left the C&O to become construction superintendent for the new Huntington plant the International Nickel Co. was building. When the plant was nearing its completion, he was named its assistant general manager and in 1944 became general manger, a post he held until his retirement in 1952.

Escorting visitors through Inco's mammoth plant, Brown frequently amazed them by calling every employee he would meet by name. And he showed the same personal touch in his efforts on behalf of St. Mary's, where he was always willing to roll up his sleeves and tackle whatever needed to be done.

In 1930, when the hospital named its first Lay Advisory Board, Brown became its long-time chairman, a post he continued to hold until his death in 1955.

During his lifetime, Brown aided a lengthy list of civic causes and organizations. For example, in the wake of the devastating 1937 flood, he was chairman of the community effort that spearheaded construction of the Huntington Floodwall. But despite his countless other praise-worthy activities, there's no question that St. Mary's Hospital stood closest to his heart.

St. Mary's Medical Center is proud to induct Herman M. Brown into our Wall of Fame.