Jan. 20, 2017, is a date etched into the heart of this newsroom and into my own life. It was the day the newspaper family at the Okmulgee Times and Henryetta Free-Lance lost not just a leader and editor, but a mentor, a steady hand and a friend – Herman Lee Brown.
That Friday should have been like so many others. Herman was getting ready for the final night of broadcast at the Okmulgee County Basketball Tournament at Brock Gymnasium, a place he knew well and loved. He had covered countless games there, called scores, taken photos and visited with coaches, players and fans who trusted him because he cared – not just about the outcome of the game, but about the people behind it.
Instead, that night became one of shock and loss. His sudden passing at the age of 60 left a void that is still felt nine years later.
For me personally, that loss was profound. I had the privilege of working alongside Herman for more than 20 years, serving as assistant editor under his guidance. Day in and day out, I watched how he carried himself, how he approached stories and how deeply he believed in the mission of local journalism. He didn’t just edit copy – he shaped reporters, encouraged young writers, challenged complacency and reminded all of us why what we do matters.
Herman wore many hats during his career, and he wore them well.
Born November 15, 1956, in Holdenville to Lawson Lawrence Brown and Ollie Jo Davis Brown, his path to journalism began with service. He joined the United States Army in 1974, graduating from Lawton High School in 1976 while serving. Stationed in Germany as a motor transport operator, he discovered his love for writing during his time in uniform. He was honorably discharged in 1977 with the rank of SP4 (E-4), carrying with him both discipline and perspective, which were traits that would later define his newsroom leadership.
That love for writing led him to his first newspaper job at the Holdenville Daily News as a news writer. From there, his career wove through communities such as Wewoka, Holdenville, Bonham, Texas – each stop adding to his experience and sharpening his instincts.
In December 1980, he joined the Okmulgee Daily Times as sports editor, reporter and photographer under longtime editor Bettye Grant. Even then, he was never content to be confined to one role. He could write a game recap, shoot photos, cover a city council meeting, or help lay out pages – often all in the same day.
After stints as managing editor at the Bonham Daily Favorite and editor roles in Wewoka and Holdenville, Herman returned home to Okmulgee in September 1990, hired as editor of the Okmulgee Daily Times under Publisher Jerry Quinn. It was a role he would come to define, and one that defined him.
As editor, Herman believed deeply in community journalism. He believed the newspaper should reflect the people it served, including all their triumphs, their struggles, their debates, their celebrations. He insisted on accuracy, fairness and balance, but he also believed in compassion. Stories weren’t just words on a page; they were someone’s life, someone’s family, someone’s reputation.
He had a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor that could lighten even the most stressful deadline nights. Many times, when tensions ran high or the workload felt overwhelming, he would offer a well-timed joke or a few words of encouragement that reminded us to breathe and keep going.
When he passed, the question quietly hung in the air: How do you replace someone like that?
The honest answer is – you don’t. In February 2017, when I stepped into the role of editor, I didn’t see it as replacing Herman. I saw it as trying to carry forward the mantle he left behind. Filling his shoes has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. There are days when the responsibility feels heavy, when the demands of modern journalism collide with shrinking resources, constant deadlines and the expectation that a small newsroom can somehow do it all.
On those days, I often find myself wishing Herman were still here – sitting at his desk, leaning back in his chair, offering a few words to validate what we do. He had a way of reminding you that even when the job is hard, even when criticism comes loudly and praise comes quietly, the work still matters.
He taught me that showing up matters. That covering the late-night game, the early-morning meeting, the small-town event that “no one else will cover” is exactly why local newspapers exist. He believed in being present – in the gym, at the courthouse, at the school, on Main Street – because that presence builds trust.
Nine years later, his influence is still here. It’s in how stories are approached, in the standards we hold ourselves to and in the belief that Okmulgee County deserves strong, honest, local journalism.
Herman Lee Brown is deeply missed – not just for what he did, but for who he was. A veteran. A writer. An editor. A mentor. A friend.
And though the newsroom has changed, the industry has changed and the challenges are different than they were in 2017, his legacy remains a guiding light. Every edition we put out, every story we tell and every community voice we strive to include is, in some small way, a continuation of the work he believed in so deeply.
Thank you, Herman, for the mentorship, the friendship, the laughter, the wisdom and the example you set. You may be gone, but your words and your impact are still with us.
