Longtime Indianapolis community leader and radio host Amos Brown has passed away while visiting family in Chicago.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster collapsed on Friday at his family home, according to a statement from his family. Arrangements have not yet been announced.
On the radio, Brown gave a voice to the voiceless. He was also a dedicated public servant, working constantly for social justice and equality.
As one person said Saturday, "we've lost a giant." In many ways, Brown was larger than life - always asking provocative questions, always sticking up for those who had no way to reach public officials and other city leaders.
He was probably best known for his radio show "Afternoons with Amos" on 1310 The Light. On the news of his passing, a LIVE tribute was held both on 1310 and sister station 106.7 WTLC. His co-workers spoke about the man who inspired them and was, to a large degree, a prominent voice in the Indianapolis African-American community.
Shannon Williams, president of the Indianapolis Recorder, where Brown was a longtime columnist, released a statement Saturday afternoon, saying:
"The Indianapolis Recorder family is saddened to hear about the passing of longtime supporter and columnist Amos Brown. Amos was not only an intellectual giant, he was a champion for equality and justice. Amos was both my friend and mentor. I will miss our bond and numerous candid conversations. His voice, candor, and keen ability to speak truth to power - despite possible backlash, will be greatly missed. Our community has lost a great mind and a great man."
- Click here for the Recorder's article on Brown's passing and click here to read his final column in the Recorder.
Longtime DJ Tony Lamont said he's known Brown 45 years and that he was a friend and a mentor.
"He never turned a person down," Lamont said. "Somebody like that, we're not going to see that person again. There's never going to be another Amos Brown in this city, in this country, in this world. There just is never going to be another man like him."
“Oh, we miss him already, Amos Brown, our community champion has passed away,” said Karen Vaughn, a DJ at WTLC radio.
Another community advocate, Brown's longtime friend Rev. Charles Harrison with the Ten Point Coalition, echoed the sentiment.
"We certainly lost a giant in our community and I just want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his family, to the Radio One family, and he's certainly gonna be missed in our city."
“He truly was a pillar of our community,” added IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams. “Truly was a partner of ours at the police department and he will truly be missed.”
Brown interviewed world leaders, and spoke to politicians at every level. He not only asked the questions, he also often found answers. A Chicago native who attended Northwestern University, he spent four decades on the air in Indianapolis and was inducted in the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Chuck Williams, vice president and general manager of Radio One Indianapolis, said:
"Amos has touched the lives and hearts of hundreds of our Radio One family, both past and present. Amos has touched hundreds of thousands of our extended Radio Family who have tuned in or reached out to Amos Brown every day of his illustrious Hall of Fame Broadcast Career. A City is identified and driven by the depth and passion of our leader's Civic commitment. Amos Brown was large among them. During Amos's entire life he exemplified true passion and caring for the City of Indianapolis and definitively for the Community he loved to serve.
"Our Hearts are with Amos's immediate family and we ask that you support them in their grief and loss."
A bouquet of purple flowers - the station color of 1310 The Light - was dropped off at the door of Radio One. Others stopped by asking if there was a tribute book to sign or other way to pay condolences but, as of Saturday evening, there was not. The station was still trying to figure out how their best known and most popular personality will be remembered.
For IMPD Chaplain David Coatie, Amos Brown was a mentor and a friend. The two met in 1988 at WTLC Radio and maintained a close friendship.
“He was a stickler for details. If it was right, you had to do it over. If it was typed right, it's a punctuation was wrong, he made you do it over so it was always fun working with Amos, but it taught me to pay attention to the details,” Coatie laughed.
He explains Brown’s enormous popularity.
“Communities are held up by pillars and when you take a pillar out of a structure, it weakens an entire structure until you get something that strong back in its place. It'll take 10 people to replace an Amos Brown because he had tentacles in every part of the community. Amos was tenacious, he was a bull dog for people who didn't have a voice,” Coatie said.
That’s perhaps Brown’s best known qualities.
“Amos championed the cause of people who did not have a voice and he used the power of everything he was to make sure it happened; education, employment, reform in our communities, politics, religion,” Coatie explained.
But above all, people is what mattered to Brown.
“Amos cared about people at the heart; it didn't matter who you were. You could be the governor or a homeless person on the street and Amos would talk to you, not at you, he wouldn't bypass you,” Coatie said.
Tanya Bell, president of the Indiana Black Expo, released a statement Saturday afternoon, saying:
"The board, staff and members of Indiana Black Expo are truly saddened by the passing of Amos Brown, a life-time champion of justice and equality for the African-American community and the underserved. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, our Radio One family and our entire community.
"His passion and voice will be sorely missed. Amos defined his life through an unwavering and unparalleled commitment to public service, advocacy and leadership. IBE is committed to honoring his legacy in our ongoing work."
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) said:
"Amos was a once-in-a-generation community leader and a tireless advocate for Hoosiers and all those who didn’t have a voice. Everyone in Indiana knew Amos, and had so much respect for his work in the community. There will be others who will take up his causes and speak to the same issues, but there will never be another Amos. I send my sympathies and prayers to his family. We will all miss him."
Gov. Mike Pence added:
“With the passing of Amos Brown, Indiana broadcasting lost a legend and Indianapolis lost a champion. Like so many of his admirers, Karen and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of this gifted Hoosier broadcaster and passionate advocate for his community.
“For more than 40 years, Amos dedicated his life’s work to amplifying the voice of the Indianapolis community. From his studio and in countless civic causes, Amos Brown worked each and every day to improve the lives of his listeners and better our capitol city.
“While our politics often differed, Amos Brown never let that stand in the way of friendship and I will miss him very much. His example of civility and respect was a testimony to the character and heart of this good man.
“He leaves behind a lasting legacy and impact on this city and state that will never be forgotten. Karen and I extend our deepest condolences and prayers for comfort to Amos’ family, friends, and listeners at this difficult time.”
Mayor Greg Ballard wrote:
"On behalf of the City of Indianapolis, I want to offer my condolences to Amos Brown's family on his sudden passing. A fixture in our community for decades, he was a true pioneer among our minority media. It's no surprise that so many people are in mourning as a result of today's shocking news."
Reaction also poured in on social media, both from his listeners, as well as those in media, political and civic circles who worked with him and were inspired by him in their own work.
