Native Of Salem – Elected Following C. D. Denit’s Retirement From Office – Employed By Norfolk And Western
From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
By dint of hard work and plenty of it, from his youth up, Roy K. Brown, a native of Salem who is new clerk of the courts of Roanoke county, is one man who has made a success in life. He was born in Salem, October 25, 1883, a son of William A. Brown and Mildred Ann (Shepherd) Brown.
As a boy he attended the public schools of Salem from which he graduated and later entered the National Business College of Roanoke where he was granted a diploma in business accounting and bookkeeping, after which he accepted a position in the Motive Power Department of the Norfolk & Western at Roanoke. In 1924, he accepted a deputy’s position under Chas. D. Denit, Clerk of the Court of Roanoke county. After eleven years of splendid service as a deputy and Mr. Denit’s decision to retire, he became a candidate in 1935 to succeed his former chief.
Takes Office in 1936
Following his election, he was inducted into office January 1, 1936, and after nearly two and one-half years of service as the head of this important office, it may be truthfully said, “he is making good.” More than a decade of experience in handling the affairs of the office fitted him particularly well for the promotion he received at the hands of the people in the 1935 election.
On June 13th, 1906, he married Miss Lida K. Shank, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Shank of Salem. This this union two daughters were born, Edna E. Brown who became the wife of Dr. William T. Puckett, and resides with here husband at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and Lida Jane Brown who married Thomas F. West, Jr. The Wests make their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the United Commercial Travelers and a member of the Salem Kiwanis Club. He is a communicant of the Salem Methodist church and politically is a Democrat. He is also secretary of the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his activities as a public office older, Mr. Brown is intensely interested in civic affairs, and may be said to stand for any movement having for its object the advancement of his home town and the county at large. As a county official he is unassuming, but kindly considerate of all with whom he some in contact. As to the county’s civic and fiscal affairs, no citizen, private or public, possess a wider knowledge.
– Prepared by Lingjie Gu
