In May 2006, The Masonry Society’s Board of Directors approved bestowing Honorary Membership on Dr. Russell H. Brown. The Society formally recognized Brown as an Honorary Member at the Awards Luncheon on October 12th, 2006,presenting him with a plaque and the Society’s thanks.

Brown has served TMS and the masonry technical community in countless ways. He is a founding member of TMS, and served as a director on our first Board. He has served in numerous roles in TMS, including Subcommittee Chairman of the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC), Director for the Board (11 years in total), Technical Activities Committee Member, Chairman of the Education Committee (1993-1996), Chairman of the Scholarships Committee, and chair of the 9th North American Masonry Conference, which was a tremendous success for TMS. Brown has authored portions or Chapters of every edition of the Masonry Designers’ Guide, and has served on most committees of TMS, offering valuable insight and assistance. He also recently served as co-coordinator of TMS’s University Masonry Education Study with J. Patrick Rand. For his tremendous support to TMS, he was presented with the President’s Award in 2003, and he was named a Fellow of TMS last year.

Brown’s contributions and accomplishments outside of The Masonry Society are equally as impressive, making him known not only to TMS members, but to members throughout the design, construction and educational communities. In brief, his research has lead to numerous provisions in the MSJC, and because of the extent and quality of his research, he received the John B. Scalzi Research Award from TMS in 1995.

After 36 years of exceptional service as an educator, researcher, and department chair, Brown recently retired from Clemson University, although he remains very active in TMS, the Masonry Standards Joint Committee, and a variety of other forums.