Credits his industry endeavors to 2 life mentors: his great-grandfather, John Sampson and family friend June Pembroke. John Sampson taught Brown how to read with daily Chicago newspapers and introduced him to Baseball after his retirement from Chicago's famed The Stockyards. June Pembroke was an elementary school teacher who extended Brown's interest in reading & became head librarian for Beasley Magnet School shortly after for over 25 years. She also played a major role in his interest in the Arts.
