Charles B. Brownson
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =Charles B. Brownson
| image name = Charles B. Brownson.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1914|2|5}}
| birth_place =Jackson, Michigan, US
| death_date ={{death date and age|1988|8|4|1914|2|5}}
| death_place=Alexandria, Virginia, US
| resting_place=Arlington National Cemetery
| state1 = Indiana
| district1 = 11th
| term_start1 = January 3, 1951
| term_end1=January 3, 1959
| preceded1 = Andrew Jacobs
| succeeded1 =Joseph W. Barr
| party =Republican
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation=businessman
| alma_mater=University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
}}
Charles Bruce Brownson (February 5, 1914 – August 4, 1988) was an American World War II veteran who served four terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1951 to 1959.
Biography
Born in Jackson, Michigan, Brownson moved with his parents to Flint, Michigan, in 1916. He attended public schools. He graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1935. He entered Infantry Reserve training in 1935. He moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, in October 1936 and established the Central Wallpaper & Paint Corp.
=World War II =
Brownson entered active duty as a first lieutenant Infantry Reserve, February 10, 1941. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, Eighty-third Infantry Division, in 1943, then as Executive officer to Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, First Army, during invasion planning in England and combat in Europe until V-E Day, and then transferred with First Army Planning Headquarters to Canlubang, Philippine Islands, August 5, 1945. He was released from active duty February 27, 1946, as a lieutenant colonel, Army Reserve, and retired as a colonel in 1974. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and French Medaille de Reconnaissance. He served as chairman of the Marion County Juvenile Court Advisory Council in 1948 and 1949.
=American Legion=
He was an active member of The American Legion and belonged to John H. Holliday Jr. American Legion Post 186 in Indianapolis. He was elected as the 33rd Commander of the Department of Indiana's 11th District, encompassing all of Marion County-including Indianapolis, serving from the time of his election in the summer of 1949 until his declaration as a candidate for the United States Congress in 1950.
=Congress =
Brownson was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1959) representing Indiana's 11th Congressional District. Brownson voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42|title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.|work=GovTrack.us}} He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1958 to the Eighty-sixth Congress.
=Later career and death =
Brownson served as assistant administrator for public affairs and congressional liaison, Housing and Home Finance Agency, Washington, D.C. from 1959 to 1964. He was editor and publisher of Congressional Staff Directory. He engaged in public relations in Washington, D.C. from 1961 to 1985.
He was a resident of Coral Gables, Florida, and Mount Vernon, Virginia, until his death in Alexandria, Virginia, on August 4, 1988. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.{{cite web|url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/Cghicm93bnNvbhIHY2hhcmxlcw--/|accessdate=August 20, 2021|website=ANC Explorer|title=Brownson, Charles B}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Bioguide}}
{{CongBio|B000964}}
External links
- [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/brownlee-brubeck.html#585.14.99 Charles Bruce Brownson entry] at The Political Graveyard
- {{Internet Archive film clip|id=gov.archives.arc.95985|description="Longines Chronoscope with Charles Brownson"}}
- {{Internet Archive film clip|id=gov.archives.arc.95968|description="Longines Chronoscope with Rep. Charles B. Brownson (March 26, 1952)"}}
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{{US House succession box |state= Indiana |district= 11 |before= Andrew Jacobs |after= Joseph W. Barr
| years= January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1959}}
{{s-end}}
{{IndianaUSRepresentatives}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 82nd-85th United States Congress |state=Indiana}}
{{USCongRep/IN/82}}
{{USCongRep/IN/83}}
{{USCongRep/IN/84}}
{{USCongRep/IN/85}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brownson, Charles Bruce}}
Category:American Presbyterians
Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Category:People from Coral Gables, Florida
Category:Politicians from Jackson, Michigan
Category:Politicians from Indianapolis
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:United States Army colonels
Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni
Category:People from Mount Vernon, Virginia
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:Military personnel from Michigan
Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana
Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives