Reflecting on the legacy of my father, Gale Brown, is like opening a time capsule of extraordinary human resilience. Born on May 10, 1925, in the now-defunct mining town of Wyndall, West Virginia, my father is a living testament to the indomitable spirit of “The Greatest Generation.” His journey, spanning from the coal mines of his youth to groundbreaking contributions in special education, embodies a narrative of perseverance, service, and transformative societal impact.
My dad’s father, Jim Brown, was a coal miner of exceptional dedication, serving without a single day off for injury or sickness over an astonishing 47 years—a plaque honoring my grandfather for this achievement presently hangs in the West Virginia State Capitol. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dad entered the mines in June 1943 straight out of high school.
World War II dramatically altered the trajectory of Dadʼs life. Although he could have received a deferment due to his essential work in the mines, his commitment to service drove him to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard in November 1943. Stationed on the LST 1148, Dad’s ship was poised to be among the first wave of attack in the invasion of Japan. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, which led to Japan’s surrender, spared Dad from this perilous mission. Instead, Dad volunteered for a hazardous assignment dismantling Japanese radio equipment at Omura Air Base in Nagasaki shortly after the bombing. This assignment exposed him to radiation and sickness that, in five years, left him completely blind.
Despite the severity of his condition, Dad’s spirit remained unbroken, and in 1952, an appendectomy partially restored Dadʼs vision in one eye (though doctors couldn’t explain why). His response to his blindness was nothing short of remarkable. Dad continued his schooling, eventually earning a bachelor’s in sociology, two master’s degrees in elementary education and special education, and certifications in pre-law and real estate. Dadʼs response to his deteriorating vision was to learn Braille and enroll in a summer program at Catholic University of America to become a Braille teacher. The camaraderie and humor of his classmates—40 nuns who playfully teased him to the point of Dad practically breaking the stitches of his appendectomy—generated fond memories during a difficult time.
Dad’s new path took him to the Maryland Workshop for the Blind, where he taught Braille and vocational skills to blind adults. He worked with adults affected by retrolental fibroplasia, a condition causing blindness in infants of low birth weight due to excessive oxygen exposure. Recognizing the need for educational support for both adults and children with visual impairments, Dad began working on integrating blind students into public school classrooms—a novel and progressive approach at the time. He became a pivotal figure in the field of education for the blind. Many of the students Dad helped went on to achieve remarkable successes, including becoming Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee champions. These student pioneers became great symbols of the success of inclusive education, and while Dad has said that their achievements are entirely due to their abilities, his students say that Dad truly changed their lives for the better. Some even say that Dad saved their lives.
Growing up in this environment, I witnessed firsthand the ripple effects of Dad’s work. His students and their families were frequent visitors to our home, and as a child, I learned to see people with handicaps such as blindness as nothing short of normal—we all have our challenges. Dad’s example, and that of his students, taught me that life’s challenges are not obstacles but opportunities to be conquered. His belief in living life to the fullest, regardless of adversity, shaped my own understanding of resilience and determination.
Despite his many responsibilities—juggling multiple side jobs, like selling Cutco knives, and completing degrees—my youthful perception was that my dad seemed to always be home spending time with his family. For example, Dad worked at one of his jobs—short order cook at The Little Tavern in College Park, Maryland—between the weekend hours of 8 p.m. (after my bedtime) until 6 a.m. In the summers, he managed the pool and taught swimming lessons, frequently taking my siblings and me with him. Before his recent death at 99, I asked my dad when he ever slept, and he said, “Well, I guess, I just didnʼt need that much sleep.” His response underscores his extraordinary ability to balance immense responsibilities with a deep commitment to his family.
Dad’s life was a narrative of incredible achievements that transcend mere academic and professional success. His ability to face adversity head-on, adapt to new challenges, and help those in need, epitomized service and persistence. Until he died, my dad often offered his time as a veterans’ services officer (67 years to date) to help veterans fill out paperwork and wade through the bureaucratic process for seeking veteran benefits. He was always serving.
Reflecting on my father’s journey, I am filled with a profound sense of pride and admiration. His life exemplified the essence of true heroism—not through grandiose acts, but through unwavering dedication to improving the lives of those around him. His legacy, marked by both personal sacrifice and professional innovation, continues to inspire me and countless others. He truly has the unbreakable American spirit.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.