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'''Thomas Alan Brown''', known as '''Tommy Brown''' (February 14, 1956 – December 29, 2017), was a well-known cardiologist and sports [[business]]man from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who himself succumbed to heart disease at the age of sixty-one.

'''Thomas Alan Brown''', known as '''Tommy Brown''' (February 14, 1956 – December 29, 2017), was a well-known cardiologist and sports [[business]]man from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who himself succumbed to heart disease at the age of sixty-one.

Born in Seminole in central [[Oklahoma]], he was the only son of four children of Talmadge "Tad" and Marjorie "Pug" Brown. The family returned to its hometown in Converse in DeSoto Parish south of Shreveport, where he graduated in 1974 from Converse High School and excelled in sports but felt destined to become a physician. He graduated magna cum laude in 1978 from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, at which he was "Mr. LSUS" in 1977 and the "LSUS Student of the Decade." At the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alphahonor medical society. Four years later, Dr. Brown graduated with honors and was accepted into his internship and residency in internal medicine. In 1984, he entered into a cardiology fellowship training at the LSU center in Shreveport.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-a-brown&pid=187692167&fhid=6593|title=Thomas A. Brown|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 1, 2018|accessdate=January 2, 2018}}</ref>

Born in Seminole in central [[Oklahoma]], he was the only son of four children of Talmadge "Tad" and Marjorie "Pug" Brown. The family returned to its hometown in Converse in DeSoto Parish south of Shreveport, where they lived in a mobile home at the end of a dirt road. Brown graduated in 1974 from Converse High School and excelled in sports but felt destined to become a physician. He graduated magna cum laude in 1978 from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, at which he was "Mr. LSUS" in 1977 and the "LSUS Student of the Decade." At the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alphahonor medical society. Four years later, Dr. Brown graduated with honors and was accepted into his internship and residency in internal medicine. In 1984, he entered into a cardiology fellowship training at the LSU center in Shreveport.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-a-brown&pid=187692167&fhid=6593|title=Thomas A. Brown|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 1, 2018|accessdate=January 2, 2018}}</ref>

While working in Shreveport, he helped to staff on weekends the DeSoto General Hospital in Mansfield, Louisiana. His devotion to his small town roots led to his being honored in 2005 as "Louisiana Rural Practitioner of the Year." According to his obituary, he was known for his "tireless work ethic and warm bedside manner ... rare breed of small-town country boy, skillful hands, and sharp intellect who was filled with compassion towards his fellow man. He had a killer smile that melted hearts and soothed fears."<ref name=obit/>

While working in Shreveport, he helped to staff on weekends the DeSoto General Hospital in Mansfield, Louisiana. His devotion to his small town roots led to his being honored in 2005 as "Louisiana Rural Practitioner of the Year." According to his obituary, he was known for his "tireless work ethic and warm bedside manner ... rare breed of small-town country boy, skillful hands, and sharp intellect who was filled with compassion towards his fellow man. He had a killer smile that melted hearts and soothed fears."<ref name=obit/>

Dr. Brown was divorced from Diane Peppers Brown of Covington in St. Tammany Parish. In addition to their son, Craig of Shreveport, the Browns have a daughter, Kimberly Luminais and husband, Keith, of Mandeville, also in St. Tammany Parish. Dr. Brown still called his children "baby" even as they became adults.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2018/01/01/dr-tommy-browns-daughter-he-called-us-baby/994430001/|title=Dr. Tommy Brown’s daughter: ‘he called us baby’|author=Jimmy Watson|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 2, 2018}}</ref> He had two granddaughters and two surviving sisters.<ref name=obit/> 

Dr. Brown was divorced from Diane Peppers Brown of Covington in St. Tammany Parish. In addition to their son, Craig of Shreveport, the Browns have a daughter, Kimberly Luminais and husband, Keith, of Mandeville, also in St. Tammany Parish. Dr. Brown still called his children "baby" even as they became adults.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2018/01/01/dr-tommy-browns-daughter-he-called-us-baby/994430001/|title=Dr. Tommy Brown’s daughter: ‘he called us baby’|author=Jimmy Watson|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 2, 2018}}</ref> He had two granddaughters and two surviving sisters.<ref name=obit/> 

Brown died at Baylor Medical Center in [[Dallas]], Texas. Though he had been ill only for a few weeks, he had sustained a virus in his heart several years earlier which proved resistant to treatment. In the last few years of his practice, he had retired from surgery but continued to treat heart patients by non-surgical means.<ref name=tst/> Services were held on January 4, 2018, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in downtown Shreveport, with pastor Pat Day officiating. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Fellowship [[Baptist]] Church in the Oak Grove community in Converse. The obituary does not mention a place of interment.<ref name=obit/> 

Brown died at Baylor Medical Center in [[Dallas]], Texas. Though he had been ill only for a few weeks, he had sustained a virus in his heart several years earlier which proved resistant to treatment. In the last few years of his practice, he had retired from surgery but continued to treat heart patients by non-surgical means.<ref name=tst/> Services were held on January 4, 2018, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in downtown Shreveport, with pastor Pat Day officiating. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Fellowship [[Baptist]] Church in the Oak Grove community in Converse, Louisiana. The obituary does not mention a place of interment.<ref name=obit/> 

 

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