This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 4, 2012 - Being from Maysville, Ky., a town along the Ohio River that counted Daniel Boone among its founders, Laurance L. Browning was more inclined toward the acoustic twangs of bluegrass than opera.
But Mr. Browning became opera’s best friend after Emerson Electric Co. bought his family’s machine parts business in 1969 and he moved to St. Louis. In 1976, he helped bring opera back to St. Louis.
“Larry Browning was an absolutely key player in the founding of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and its ability to accomplish its goals in the early years,” said Richard Gaddes, founding general director of the company.
After being in declining health for some time, said his family, Mr. Browning died Sunday morning at his home in Maysville. He had returned to his hometown about two and a half years ago. He was 83.
Services will be at First Presbyterian Church in Maysville on Thursday.
“Without Larry, Opera Theatre would not be the internationally renowned company it is today,” Gaddes said. “He reveled in the early success; his joy in doing it was palpable.”
The visionary
Mr. Browning founded Opera Theatre with Leigh Gerdine, the late president of Webster University, and James A. Van Sant, the former president of General Steel Industries. They began the venture with the idea of putting on an opera festival that would feature young American stars on the rise.
“It was a visionary, civic-minded and idealistic enterprise,” said Timothy O’Leary, the current general director of Opera Theatre, “and Larry was absolutely determined that not only would we have an artistically distinguished opera company, but a fiscally sound one.
“It was no secret that Larry was not a huge opera fan,” O’Leary laughed. “We knew we had a really great show if he loved it. He got involved and supported it so generously because he believed that a great community should have great arts organizations.”
That principle led him to support a profusion of arts, civic and charitable organizations, among them Grand Center, Sheldon Concert Hall, the St. Louis Science Center, the St. Louis Symphony and Webster University, where he was a lifetime trustee.
“It is difficult to conceive of an aspect of Webster University that has not been impacted by the leadership, foresight, and philanthropy of Larry, who with Jinny, became benefactors of the university in the early 1980s and helped transform the campus to place Webster at the forefront of global education and the arts,” said Beth Stroble, Webster’s president, in a statement.
“Larry’s vision and commitment to Webster University have not only advanced but helped to shape the mission of Webster University.”
Mr. Browning and his wife were instrumental in the construction of Webster’s Emerson Library and the Loretto-Hilton Center where the mainstage is named for Virginia Jackson Browning.
He provided support and leadership to the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis and the Missouri Arts Council, Forest Park Forever, Inroads Inc., the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Sheldon Arts Foundation, St. Louis Community Foundation, the St. Louis Art Museum and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
In Maysville, he served on the board of directors of the Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club, was a founding member of the Maysville Players and served on the inaugural board of the Fleming-Mason Airport.
Other affiliations included Associated Industries of Kentucky, Associated Industries of Missouri, National Association of Manufacturers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the St. Louis Regional Growth and Commerce Association and SCS/Compute. He was a director of Star Banc Corp, now U.S. Bancorp.
The businessman
Laurance Lewright Browning Jr. was born May 13, 1929, the eldest son of Laurance L. and Dorothy Nulton Browning.
He received a bachelor of mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University, where he met his future wife. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a mechanical development officer in the Research and Development Command. He attained the rank of first lieutenant.
Browning Manufacturing began life as Ohio Valley Pulley Works in 1886. Mr. Browning began his career in the family business as a sales engineer in Pittsburgh. He returned to Maysville after two years.
He was serving as the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer when he successfully negotiated the merger of Browning with Emerson, a global manufacturing giant. Following the merger, Mr. Browning remained in Maysville as president of Browning and group vice president of Emerson.
In 1973, he moved his family to St. Louis. Here he held positions as Emerson’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer. He served in the office of then-chief executive, Charles F. “Chuck” Knight and later became vice chairman of the company. He was elected an Emerson director in 1969, a position he held until his retirement in 2002.
“Larry was a brilliant business person,” O’Leary said. “He was a great and important man for St. Louis.”
Mr. Browning was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert Evans Browning.
His survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, the former Virginia “Jinny” Louise Jackson; three daughters, Virginia Browning (Joe) Illick of Santa Fe, N.M; Kathryn B. (Doug) Hendrickson of Maysville; and Dorothy Browning (Carl) Colby of Vail, Colo.; and one brother, Louis (Kaye) Browning of Maysville.
He is also survived by seven granddaughters, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Wed. at the Browning home, 840 Park Drive, Maysville. Services will be at 11 a.m., Thurs., at First Presbyterian Church, 21 West Third Street, Maysville, KY 41056. An online guest book may be signed at knoxbrothersfuneralhome.com.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Hope, 909 Kenton Station Drive, Maysville, KY 41056, or the Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club, 241 Maple Leaf Road Maysville, KY 41056.
Some information for this story came from the Ledger Independent, Maysville, Ky.