Louisville community figure Ellie Brown dies at 84 [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ellie Brown, the first wife of former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown II has died.

The late governor and Ellie funded Actor’s Theater of Louisville, helping save the Downtown YMCA and were instrumental in the development of Kentucky Center for the Arts and the Muhammad Ali Center.

The trailblazer was also instrumental helping bring the Kentucky Colonels into the hearts of the Louisville community. She was the first chairwoman of the board of the ABA team and was part of an all-female ownership board.

Ellie and John Y. Brown II were inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Her Hometown Heroes banner debuted last May across from the Vincenzo’s restaurant on South Fifth Street. 

The 84-year-old leaves behind three children, including John Y. Brown III.

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