Street in Nation's Capitol Named in Honor of Former U.S. Sec. of Commerce Ronald Brown

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A section of 14th Street in Northwest between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues has been renamed Ron Brown Way in honor of the late Ronald H. Brown, the first African American to hold the position as Secretary of Commerce. Two ceremonies commemorated his life and accomplishments on Fri., March 25. Photo by Victor Holt
A section of 14th Street in Northwest between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues has been renamed Ron Brown Way in honor of the late Ronald H. Brown, the first African American to hold the position as Secretary of Commerce. Two ceremonies commemorated his life and accomplishments on Fri., March 25. Photo by Victor Holt

By James Wright

Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer

A section of 14th Street in Northwest between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues has been renamed Ron Brown Way in honor of the late Ronald H. Brown, the first African American to hold the position as Secretary of Commerce. Two ceremonies were held to commemorate his life and accomplishments, which attracted both local and government officials.

The first ceremony took place outside of the U.S. Department of Commerce and included such dignitaries as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, and D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown, D.C. Council members Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1).

Ronald Browns life is a legacy of accomplishment, Locke, 61, said. This is a fitting tribute to a man who was born in Washington, D.C. The renaming of this portion of 14th Street assures that Ronald Brown will live on forever.

Brown achieved many firsts throughout his life, which ended tragically on April 3, 1996 in a plane crash over Croatia. He was 54.

Brown was the first Black to serve as the secretary of the U.S. Commerce Department and was the first African American to lead a major political party as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

In the District, he was the first Black to become a partner in a major D.C. law firm; Patton, Boggs and Blow.

Kwame Brown, 40, (no relation) said that Ronald Brown was an American hero.

Browns four grandchildren pulled the ceremonial string to reveal the green sign that reads Ron Brown Way.

Michael Brown, 45, the current D.C. Council member and son of the late politician, read the names of the people who perished with his father in 1996 and said that an annex of the United Nations Building in New York City will also be named in his honor.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray attended the second ceremony in the Commerce building and said that Ron Brown Way was appropriate for remembering the political and business leader.

We should have done this many, many years ago, Gray, 68, said.

There is an important symbolism here in that Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue is a nexus between the D.C. government and federal government. Ronald Brown had achieved enormously on behalf of this nation and the people of this city.

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