George R. Brown

George Rufus Brown (May 12, 1898 – January 22, 1983) was a prominent Houston entrepreneur. Brown led Brown & Root Inc. to become one of the largest construction companies in the world and helped to foster the political career of Lyndon B. Johnson. The George R. Brown Convention Center and the George R. Brown School of Engineering of Rice University are both named in honor of him.

Brown was born on May 12, 1898 in Belton and moved in 1904 to Temple; both communities are in Bell County. His older brother, Herman, left Rice University after spending less than a year there and started work in road paving. Herman's brother-in-law, Dan Root, loaned Herman money in 1919 and founded Brown & Root in 1919. George R. Brown graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1922 and joined his brother in the business. The company paved roads and built bridges and other public works in Houston.

In 1936, Brown & Root was awarded a contract to construct the Marshall Ford Dam (now known as the Mansfield Dam). The construction was almost stopped in 1937 but was allowed to continue when Lyndon B. Johnson (then a very junior congressman) helped push through special legislation. The project was part of the New Deal, and was completed in 1942. During World War II, the company's work was expanded to military construction. Over 300 water crafts were constructed. The company was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service in 1942 for giving bonuses to employees who had agreed to donate to Lyndon B. Johnson. Brown & Root was ultimately fined $372,000.

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