James Forbis Brownlee

Background

James Forbis Brownlee was born on July 29, 1891 in Oakland, California, the son of Malcolm Bruce Brownlee, a banker, and Myra Belle Forbis.

Education

James Brownlee was educated in the public schools of Spokane, Washington, and at the Middlesex School in Concord, Massachussets. He graduated from Harvard University in 1913, with the B. A. Brownlee's business career began in 1913, when he became a salesman for the American Sugar Refining Company in New York City.

Career

During World War I, James Brownlee served as second lieutenant in the army and was stationed at Camp Hancock, Georgia. He subsequently served in France as an ordnance officer.

In 1925 Brownlee was promoted to general sales manager of American Sugar. He held that position until 1928, when he joined the General Foods Corporation as president of the Baker Associates Company, a marketing subsidiary responsible for the sale of half of General Food's products.

He rose within the company and in 1932 was elected vice-president in charge of sales and advertising. He also became a director of General Foods but left in 1935 to become president of Frankfort Distilleries, a Louisville, Kentucky, corporation.

He held that post until 1943, concurrently serving on several boards and councils and in several government positions. From 1936 until 1938, he was also president of the Jefferson Island Salt Company of Louisville. Brownlee's government service began in 1937 with a two-year membership on the Washington-based business Advisory Council.

In 1942 he served on the War Production Board, and, from 1942 to 1946, in the War Food Administration. From 1943 to 1945 he was deputy administrator in charge of price control for the Office of Price Administration, and in 1946 he was deputy director of the Office of Economic Stabilization.

During his tenure with the O. P. A. , Brownlee played a key role in the task of reconverting the country's economy to postwar conditions. His program involved industry-wide surveys of the ceiling prices of products with overall price increases where the ceilings proved to be restrictive. After leaving full-time government service, Brownlee worked as a consultant to several corporations.

From 1951 until his retirement seven years later he was a partner in the New York City investment firm of J. H. Whitney and Company. Also in 1951, Brownlee became chairman of the board and a director of the Minute Maid Corporation.

From 1952 until 1956, he returned to part-time government service, serving as special adviser to the administrator of the Office of Defense Mobilization.

He died in Greensfield Hill, Connecticut.

Achievements

• James Brownlee's career achievements include him serving as director of the Spencer Chemical Company of Kansas City, Missouri, Pillsbury Mills of Minneapolis, and the American Express Company of New York City. His other postwar positions included that of director of the Chase Manhattan Bank and of the American Sugar Refining Company. He was also appointed as president of Frankfort Distilleries, a Louisville, Kentucky, corporation in 1935. In 1953 Brownlee was made a trustee of the Ford Foundation, and a year later he directed a business task force developed to study the problems of the soft coal industry and other facets of fuel supply.

Connections

On March 10, 1917, James Brownlee married Emeline Morley.

Mother:

Myra Belle Forbis

Wife:

Emeline Morley

father:

Malcolm Bruce Brownlee

banker