Public Figure Profiles

John Y. Brown Jr.

John Young Brown Jr. is an American politician, entrepreneur, and businessman from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He served as the 55th governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983, although he may be best known for building Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) into a multimillion-dollar restaurant chain.

The son of United States Congressman John Y. Brown Sr., Brown's talent for business became evident in college, where he made a substantial amount of money selling Encyclopædia Britannica sets. After briefly practicing law with his father, he purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken from founder Harland Sanders in 1964. Brown turned the company into a worldwide success, and sold his interest in the company for a huge profit in 1971. He then invested in several other restaurant ventures, but none matched the success of KFC. During the 1970s, he also owned, at various times, three professional basketball teams – the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels, and the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics and Buffalo Braves (currently the Los Angeles Clippers).

Despite having previously shown little inclination toward politics, Brown surprised political observers by declaring his candidacy for governor in the 1979 election. With the state and nation facing difficult economic times, Brown promised to run the state government like a business. A strong media campaign funded by his personal fortune allowed him to win the Democratic primary and go on to defeat former Republican governor Louie B. Nunn in the general election. Because he owed few favors to established political leaders, he appointed many successful businesspeople to state posts instead of making political appointments. Following through on his campaign promise to make more diverse appointments, he named a woman and an African-American to his cabinet. During his tenure, Brown exerted less influence over the legislature than previous governors and was frequently absent from the state, leaving lieutenant governor Martha Layne Collins as acting governor for more than one quarter of his term. He briefly competed for the U.S. Senate after his gubernatorial term in the 1984 election but withdrew from the race after only three weeks, citing health issues. He has continued to invest in business ventures, the most high profile of which was Kenny Rogers Roasters, a wood-roasted chicken restaurant he founded with country music star Kenny Rogers.

Brown has been married three times, the second time to former Miss America Phyllis George (1949–2020). Among his children are news anchor Pamela Ashley Brown and former Secretary of State of Kentucky John Young Brown III.

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Some of their strengths

John Y. Brown Jr. has many admirable traits.

Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Loyal, Generous, Strong, Honest, Intelligent, Practical, and Energetic.

Smart and Hardworking

According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, John Y. Brown Jr. is someone who is a smart, hardworking, reliable, and loyal person, who is detail-oriented and orderly, but also generous and optimistic. A person who seems to identify with family, heritage and ancestry.

Constant and Serious

Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know John Y. Brown Jr. well know them as someone who can be determined, unmoving, and firm, like a rock or a high mountain.

Methodical and Exacting

According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe John Y. Brown Jr. as someone who is careful, methodical, and a perfectionist.

A person who forms successful business partnerships, who appreciates the variety the world has to offer, who takes a frugal approach to life and tends to be a workaholic, and who engages in things that let them express their opinion.

Altruistic and Ambitious

Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, John Y. Brown Jr. is someone who is the type of person who rallies behind a group, cause, or community, and who enjoys being dedicated to a higher cause of some sort.

They are also someone who is active, giving, optimistic, and cheerful, and who possesses a charisma that attracts friends and admirers.

Patient and Perseverent

According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, John Y. Brown Jr. tends to be someone who is patient, faithful, hardworking and persistent, and who wants to achieve a lot in life. Who tends to be rather private when it comes to expressing feelings, enjoys being independent and self-sufficient, and who is not afraid of any obstacle.

Some of John Y. Brown Jr.'s challenges

While John Y. Brown Jr. has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.

For example, John Y. Brown Jr. can be Sensitive, Suspicious, Stubborn, Idle, Hesitant, Narcissistic, and Critical.

Suspicious and Stubborn

One of John Y. Brown Jr.'s key challenges is that they are someone who can be suspicious and stubborn.

Sensitive and Critical

John Y. Brown Jr. is someone who can be insecure, critical, and pessimistic, who can have difficulty relaxing, can be possessive and jealous, and who can have difficulty listening to others' opinions and perspectives and make hasty decisions.

Callous and Stubborn

Finally, John Y. Brown Jr. also can come across as cold and unemotional, be too dismissive of others' opinions, and be overly suspicious, selfish and crafty.

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