Our Founder: Owsley Brown Frazier

May 7, 1935 - August 16, 2012

In addition to founding and serving as chairperson of the Frazier History Museum, Owsley Brown Frazier was a fourth generation descendant of Brown-Forman Corporation founder George Garvin Brown and a retired vice chairman of the company.

Frazier joined Brown-Forman in 1955 and trained in sales, personnel, and law, and in 1959 became assistant to the resident counsel. He was named company attorney in 1960. In 1964, he was appointed corporate secretary and executive director of personnel and corporate services and elected to the board of directors. He was elected vice chairman in 1983 and continued to serve in that role until his retirement from management in 2000.  He remained a member of Brown-Forman’s board of directors until 2006.

In his role as vice chairman of Brown-Forman Corporation, Frazier’s responsibilities encompassed public affairs, stockholder services, community affairs, communications, and corporate services.

Frazier was also owner and chairman of Bittners, LLC, an interior and commercial design firm.

When Frazier retired from Brown-Forman June 1, 2000, he immediately began laying the groundwork to open the Frazier History Museum, which opened in the spring of 2004.

In addition to his responsibilities as vice chairman of Brown-Forman, Bittners owner, and history museum founder, Frazier amassed an impressive public service record, raising more than $300 million over a 30-year period primarily for educational institutions in Kentucky.

Following in the footsteps of his philanthropist mother, Amelia Brown Frazier, Owsley Brown Frazier’s extensive involvement in business, civic, and charitable organizations over the years gained him a reputation as a concerned citizen who put his money and his muscle to work on behalf of many good causes. At Brown-Forman, he spearheaded a drive for corporate involvement in such social problems as the need for better housing. The company’s Adopt-A-Neighborhood program has resulted in a total investment of more than $6.5 million from various sources for the construction and rehabilitation of more than 50 low-income houses in the California neighborhood of Louisville.

Frazier chaired a $75 million campaign on behalf of the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute to construct a new state-of-the-art facility. He also led an $18 million building campaign at the University of Louisville for a natatorium and swimming complex.

More recently Frazier donated $25 million to the University of Louisville in 2011, the largest single contribution in the university’s history, and is believed to be the single largest gift to any university or college in Kentucky.

In June 2000, the National Association of Athletic Development Directors presented Frazier with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Also in June 2000, he was awarded the Jefferson Cup by County Judge Executive Rebecca Jackson. Frazier received an honorary degree of “Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa” from the University of Louisville commemorating his significant philanthropic efforts for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has a second honorary degree, a “Doctor of Humane Letters,” from Bellarmine University. Frazier was presented with the prestigious Sky Ranch Foundation Hall of Fame Pioneer Award in June 1999. Also in 1999, he was honored by the Black Achievers with their Distinguished Service Award. Frazier was named Voice Tribune’s 1999 Man of the Year and was awarded the most distinguished Gold Cup Award 1999 from Greater Louisville Incorporated.

Throughout the years, Frazier’s outstanding gifts of time and money have been recognized by the Louisville Rotary Club, The Lincoln Foundation (the Spirit of Excellence Award for humanitarian service to the community), the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, and the Fund Raising Executives of Metro Louisville (the 1998 Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year award). In 1990, he received the Louisville Urban League’s Equality Award “in recognition of commendable contributions and leadership in the pursuit of equality and community betterment.” Frazier was the Arthritis Foundation’s Man of the Year in 1989 and the recipient of the Younger Woman’s Club of Louisville Citizen Laureate Award in 1986. In August 2001, Frazier was awarded the “Minerva Medal” from the University of Louisville, “In recognition of his untiring support and dedication to his alma mater.”

Frazier was a former executive member and director of Greater Louisville, Inc.; a director and member of the executive committee of the Kentucky Economic Development Corporation; and a director of the Louisville Housing Development Corporation. He also served on the boards of the Cathedral Heritage Foundation, Jewish Hospital Healthcare Services, and Frazier Rehab Center. He was chairman emeritus of Kentucky Country Day School. He was also past chairman of the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership, the Downtown Development Corporation, and Business/Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC), Washington, D.C.

From 1989 to 1997, Frazier served as a member of the Board of Directors of Liberty National Bank/Bank One, Kentucky. He also served on the board of trustees of the University of Louisville Overseers, including recent service as chairman of the board, and was director/chairman emeritus of the board of Bellarmine University.

Frazier was a member of the Pendennis Club, Louisville Country Club, River Valley Club and Ocean Reef Club (Key Largo, Fl), the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Beta Theta Pi and Phi Alpha Delta fraternities.

Born May 7, 1935 and a native of Louisville, Frazier attended Centre College and graduated from the University of Louisville with BSL and JD degrees.