Randall Chilton Brown
Obituary
Recently our community lost a respected historian, Randall C. Brown, 71, of Boulder Creek, California. Randall passed away on April 20, 2023 following a long illness.
Randall was born in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in Scarsdale, New York. He was a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he majored in American Studies. Prior to his move to the San Lorenzo Valley a few decades ago, Randall resided in Staten Island, San Francisco, and North Carolina.
A consummate researcher and writer, Randall's published works includes the definitive The San Lorenzo Valley Water District - a History (2011), Felton News , California's Big Cheese in Pathways to the Past (Santa Cruz MAH, 2009), he co-authored several articles in Redwood Logging and Conservation in the Santa Cruz Mountains – A Split History (Santa Cruz MAH, 2014), co-authored Santa Cruz's Seabright (Arcadia Publishing, 2017), and was a contributor to Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz (Arcadia Publishing, 2020). His many historical articles have appeared in Staten Island Historian, Good Times, the Press Banner, San Lorenzo Valley Post, and Base Ball - A Journal of the early years of the Game. In addition, he produced many digital videos, including: Felton's Progress, Who Invented Baseball?, When Redwoods Had Names, and the Original Giants. His discovery of an obscure 1887 interview with William Wheaton, the first umpire, led to the article, How Baseball Began, in the 2004 issue of The National Pastime. At the time of his death, he was researching the earliest history of the Black Baseball League teams.
While living in Felton, he became fascinated by its rich local history, especially the era when Santa Cruz County hosted some of early Hollywood's biggest stars which developed into another passion - movies filmed in the San Lorenzo Valley, particularly the early silent movies, which he screened at several locations in the Valley.
Widely recognized in the history community for his commitment to thoroughness and accuracy, he received a Dolkas//Mertz Research Award from the Santa Cruz County History Forum in 2012 and was named Distinguished Historian in 2017. His exceptional generosity with his vast knowledge made him an indispensable resource to both aspiring and well-established historians.
In 2012, Randall was elected as a Director of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD). He showed exceptional leadership at a challenging time for the District. SLVWD's Resolution of Appreciation states he was "a man of dignity, honor and the voice of the people/voters/ratepayers." He was also instrumental in the merger of the Lompico County Water District with the SLVWD.
Among his many accolades, Randall was named the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2014 for his service with the SLVWD.
Randall is survived by three brothers; Bert of Santa Cruz, CA, Curtis of Taiwan, ROC, and Gregory of Swarthmore, PA and Palm Springs, CA.
A memorial tribute will be held May 13, 2023 at the Felton Community Hall at 5:30 pm immediately following the Santa Cruz County History Fair.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a favorite local history organization in Randall's name.
Published in Press Banner · May 12, 2023