Obituary for Norma Brown
Published in Tallahassee Democrat on Jul. 27,
2003. Maj. Gen. Norma Elaine Brown, 77, who retired from the U.S. Air
Force and lived in Leon Springs, Texas, died Tuesday, July 22, 2003, in
Cheyenne, Wyo., following a pulmonary embolism. Gen. Brown was a native of
Florida, but had adopted San Antonio as her home. She had lived in the Leon
Springs community since her retirement from the Air Force in 1982. After
graduation from Florida State University in 1949, Gen. Brown taught
physical education at middle school and high school levels for two years in
Lake City. She entered the Air Force in December 1951 when a force build-up
was in effect for the Korean War. At that time she was one of approximately
13,000 women in the Air Force. In the following years, she served as
personnel officer and WAF Squadron Commander at bases in Washington, D.C.,
San Antonio, England, Taiwan and Newfoundland. In 1972, after being
promoted to colonel, she became commander of the 6970th Air Base Group at
Fort George Meade, Maryland, and in 1974 she became the first female wing
commander when she assumed command of the 6940th Security Wing at
Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. In 1977 she was promoted to
brigadier general and assigned as deputy chief of staff for personnel and
manpower, Air Force Logistics Command at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Two
years later, after promotion to major general, she assumed command of
Chanute Technical Training Center in Rantoul, Ill. She retired in August
1982 after 32 years of service. Her military decorations include the
Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious
Service Medal. In 1982 she received the Order of the Sword from the
enlisted members of Air Training Command in recognition of her dedicated
support of the enlisted force. In 1993 the USAF Security Service Alumni
Association elected her to its Hall of Honor. She was selected a member of
the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 1986 and was named an FSU "Grad
Done Good" in 1980. She holds an honorary degree in philosophy from
MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Ill. After retirement from the Air Force,
Gen. Brown served on the board of directors for GEICO until 1994. Survivors
include a daughter, Denise Crewe Ramos (and husband Stefen) of San Antonio;
a grandson, Zachary Ramos of San Antonio; and a sister, Louise Smith of
Jacksonville. She was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Crewe of San
Antonio; two grandchildren, Samantha Ramos and Micaela Ramos; her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Brown; and two sisters.
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