BROWN RETIRING FROM COUDERSPORT SCHOOLS
Respected teacher leaves a legacy for students
By Travis Moshier Endeavor News

Vocational agriculture students such as junior Josiah Gerhart will miss veteran educator Earl Brown, who announced last week that he is retiring after more than four decades in the classroom. Brown's influence on area young people has been recognized by state leaders and acknowledged by hundreds of students who have had him as a teacher, coach, inspirational mentor and a friend.

For 43 years he has warned students to get on the stick before the stick got on them. On June 29, Earl Brown will hang up his keys for good.

Those keys have unlocked the doors to classrooms and greenhouses, but they've also unlocked doors to an education that goes beyond tests and numbers.

Every day former students trim trees, work on small engines or switch out faulty electrical outlets with the skills and knowledge they gained from Brown's classes.

His name is known far beyond the confines of the high school. The Future Farmers of America have awarded him an Honorary American Degree, the highest honor given by the National FFA Association.

Ask him to see that award, or any of the numerous honors he has earned, and he will say they are in a box somewhere at his house. The real prides of his work are the students who have walked through his doors.

"When you're in it as long as I am, you get to be known for the things you do," he said. "I think the success of the program and the students has a lot to do with it."

"Others see the results, and I guess that is how I gain the respect."

Among honors earned by Brown's Spud Growers FFA Chapter are 19 Building Our American Community Awards, two governor's citations, 23 FFA National Chapter Awards and 19 FFA National Chapter Safety Awards.

The agriculture program and the FFA, which is part of the ag program by Federal law, have come a long way since Brown took over in August of 1965.

"When I started it was basically a production-oriented program," he said. "We had to change with the times."

The program that once dealt with dairy, beef and crop production now includes hydroponics, mechanics, construction, aquaculture and timberland improvement to name a few.

"We had to start getting students ready for the new areas of agriculture."

Enrollment in classes has averaged around 120 students and rose to nearly 200 some years.

The chapter was chartered by 12 members in 1930. Brown, a Port Allegany native who followed in the footsteps of prominent Coudersport educators Henry Staiger and Carl Dewey, estimated the total members around 40 when he took over the program.

This school year there were 92 members of the organization.

Brown and Dewey helped 138 Spud Growers earn Keystone Degrees since the chapter was chartered. Dewey was the only other advisor to the Spud Growers, which is the oldest continuous chapter in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the nation.

Brown was the boys and girls track coach for 27 years as well as the varsity and junior high football coach.

Under the direction of Brown, the girls' track team achieved 201 wins, 21 losses and one tie. The boys' team earned 178 wins and 44 losses. Coudersport had at least one state qualifier in 24 out of his 27 years, with 18 state medal winners and two state champions.

What made Brown's teams so successful was his ability to know what events an athlete would be good at and to keep them motivated.

Brown spent 41 of his 43 years involved with Coudersport football. The first few were developing a feeder program, junior high; then he spent a few years bringing a varsity program from the brink of extinction to winning three league championships in less than 10 seasons.

Following the championship and his Big 30 Coach of the Year award in 1978, Brown turned over the program to Paul Simcoe, who is also retiring this year. Brown then moved back to the junior high level, where he was a part of 12 undefeated teams.

His influence and impact stretch far beyond his activities with Coudersport students, as Brown is involved in an almost uncountable number of organizations and activities in Potter County and across Pennsylvania.

During his retirement Brown says he plans to continue working with groups and organizations, as well as picking up a few of the ones he has had to turn down.

Brown says he wants to be remembered for "being able to motivate students to succeed and do the best they are able to do."

"I think agriculture is as important today as it ever was," Brown said, citing the ever increasing demand on agriculture to solve the energy crisis.

"There's going to be a tremendous need for people educated in those fields."

When asked specifically about Coudersport's ag program, Brown said, "I can see it continue to go on and be a benefit to a large number of students for a long time."