John Y. Brown, former Kentucky Governor and avid UK fan, passes away

The Commonwealth has lost one of its biggest characters. Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown passed away from a series of health issues stemming from COVID-19 complications, his children told the Herald-Leader. He was 88 years old.

“Our Dad, John Y. Brown Jr., not only dreamed the impossible dream, he lived it until the very end,” Brown’s children said in a statement. “His positive attitude and zest for life was unrivaled and allowed him to beat the odds many times over. Every day was an exciting adventure for him. He was a true Kentucky original who beamed with pride for his home state and its people.

“He had many prominent accomplishments, but most of all he loved his family with all of his heart, and we in turn loved him with all of our hearts. We are heartbroken by his passing, but find comfort in what he wrote in one of his final days, ‘I have never been so happy.'”

Brown served as Kentucky’s governor from December 1979 to December 1983. Prior to becoming governor, he turned Kentucky Fried Chicken into the world’s largest fast-food chain, selling it in 1971 for $284 million. He also owned part or all of the Buffalo Braves, the Boston Celtics, and the Kentucky Colonels. In 1979, he sold his interest in the Celtics and married former Miss America and CBS sportscaster Phyllis George. Ten days after their wedding, he announced he was running for governor. The two stayed married until 1998. George passed away in May 2020 at the age of 70.

Passionate Kentucky fan

Brown, a Lexington native, attended Lafayette High School and the University of Kentucky for undergrad and law school. He remained a passionate UK fan throughout his life, even attempting to get Fran Curci, Kentucky’s football coach, fired during his tenure as governor. When Kentucky went looking for a coach to replace Joker Phillips in 2012, Brown wrote an email to the UK Board of Trustees in support of Butch Davis. Even though the school went with Mark Stoops instead, Brown told Kyle Tucker he was “very encouraged” by Stoops. I imagine he was pretty happy with the last decade of Kentucky Football.

John Y. was a trip, man.

When I told him I had an email from him to the UK Board of Trustees saying that Mitch Barnhart had to be "challenged" on the football coaching hire in 2012, this was his answer. Guy was a helluva talker. https://t.co/XaewmrThbJ pic.twitter.com/9Cbd0bhEPP

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 22, 2022

Of course, that passion extended to Kentucky Basketball as well. At Media Day last month, John Calipari said he had just met with Brown, who passed along this advice/demand.

“I was just with John Y. Brown today for an hour,” Calipari said. “And we’re talking. He’s telling stories. I’m hearing about Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Celtics. Unbelievable mind. And then as I leave the room, he says, ‘Make sure you have 3-point shooters.’”

As Cal would say, we’ve got shooters; after the Michigan State and Gonzaga losses, I’m not sure they’re necessarily makers.

If you want to hear more John Y. Brown stories, I recommend Oscar Combs’ three-part interview with him from 2018. He was a larger-than-life character.