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By Gene
Mueller (a blog on
the www.620wtmj.com website)
Story
Created: Sep 3, 2009
Story
Updated: Sep 3, 2009
He's
ten years older than I am, yet he looks so much younger. That was my
first thought as I shook hands with Dale Brown--the brains behind
Brown and Martin, a long-time local
public relations/consulting firm. No, I didn't need crisis management,
and I didn't have a new product that needed pitching. Dale and I were
meeting for lunch because of a relationship that dates back to the 70's.
Dale taught high school English, journalism and served as our
adviser at "The Wind": Sheboygan North's high school newspaper.
Dale
was a "cool" teacher--his hair was long, his ties were wide when some of his
co-horts were still dressing like members of the Nixon cabinet. He got
our sense of humor, encouraged our interest in the printed word and was
still able to maintain the respect that a teacher deserves. It wasn't
quite "Room 222" at our end of the second-floor hallway where we cranked out
a paper, but it was very, very nurturing.
I'd always had an interest in
the media--Dale did all he could to turn the spark into a flame. I
was lucky, because Dale would leave teaching, put a dummy on his knee and
head out to conquer the world of public relations.
The "Martin" in
"Brown and Martin" is his wooden pal, Chip (the guy wearing the jacket).
Dale's ventriloquist act turned into a unique way to motivate corporate
groups and deliver a message. That evolved into public relations,
speeches and an Internet adjunct over the years.
Sheboygan
North's loss is an industry's gain.
I knew of Dale's exploits over
the years, and knew what a presence he'd become in the business
community. He'd take up his passion for speed, becoming a road racer in
his off time, as well as a Harley Rider. He'd dip into this blog every
now and then, leaving compliments that would always make me blush since I
thought so much of his opinion.
We'd finally meet up face to face at
lasts spring's "Black and Blue" ball at the Midwest Airlines Center--Dale
gives back, too, helping MDA and other causes (he and his Corvette club give
rides to kids with disabilities each year). Nice guy and generous, too.
As the new school year begins, may your kids be so lucky as to have a
Dale Brown in their scholastic lives. Someone who inspires, encourages
and supports. They don't need to become mid-life lunch buddies, but they
need to have something more than a
I-said-it-kid-and-I-want-you-to-spit-it-back-at-me-at-test-time
relationship. It can change a life, or at the very least reinforce a
child's passion.
Dale Brown did that for me. The least I could do
was buy him lunch.
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