Bobby Ray Brown

Bobby Ray Brown, 87, of Tyler, Texas, died Thursday, November 7, 2019.  He was born June 7, 1932 in Hamburg, Arkansas to John Ray and Edith Hill Brown.  He was the third of six siblings.  Mr. Brown was a resident of Tyler, Texas for the past five years.  He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Mr. Brown graduated from Hamburg High School and attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Arkansas A&M at Monticello, now the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas and an Executive MBA from the Sloan School of Business at MIT.  Mr. Brown began his professional career with Continental Oil Co (CONOCO) in 1957, and moved through the ranks to Senior Vice President through June, 1976.  He then served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Consol Inc. and its parent, Consol Energy Inc., the parents of Consolidation Coal Company, from July 1977 to January 1998. Mr. Brown served as Senior Vice President of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Consol's controlling shareholder, from 1981 to 1991. He served as a Director of Consol Inc. and Consol Energy Inc. from prior to 1997 to February 2000.  He also served from 1990 to 1995 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Remington Arms Co., Inc. Mr. Brown served in other professional capacities, including: A Director on the Boards of: Bituminous Coal Operators Association Negotiating Committee, Patriot Coal Corporation, Raci Holding Inc., Remington Arms Co. Inc., AEI Resources Holding Inc., Peabody Energy Corp., PNC Bank, and Carnegie Mellon University.  He also served as the Chairman of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association Negotiating Committee. His honors include being an inductee in the West Virginia Mining Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Mining Association and the Hamburg High School Hall of Fame. Mr. Brown enjoyed hunting, fishing and following the stock market.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by a son, David Ray Brown; a sister, Bettye Hobbs and two brothers, Cecil Brown and Charles “Billy” Brown.

Mr. Brown is survived by his children, DeEdra Jane, Laura Camille, and Paul Bryon; two brothers, Rev. Jim Brown and John Brown; four grandchildren, Alexis Leone, Diana (Toni) Antoinette, Erin Elizabeth, Emily Anne, and three great-grandchildren, Brennan Rae, Miles Emerson and Rilyn Leone. 

A graveside service will be held at a later date in the Hamburg Cemetery with Rev. Jim Brown officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, PO Box 1897, Little Rock, Arkansas  72203.  

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