Frank Brownell leaves legacy started by his father

MONTEZUMA — Frank R. Brownell III, 85, a longtime Montezuma community supporter, business owner, Veteran and strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, passed away in Grinnell June 18 following a lengthy illness.

His passing comes six days shy of his 86th birthday.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after noon Friday, July 11 at the church with family present from 4 — 8 p.m.

Brownell, a 1957 graduate of Montezuma High School, held a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising from the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1961, magna cum laude.

Brownell and his wife, Nancy (Denton), a native of Illinois, who he met at the University of Iowa, married on July 16, 1961, two days before Brownell was commissioned in the U.S. Navy.

According to an article in the Montezuma Republican, Brownell lived a short time in Newport, Rhode Island, where he completed Navy Officer Candidate School before relocating to Oregon. He and Nancy then made their home in Long Beach, California for three years. This was the home port for Brownell’s ship, the U.S.S. Caliente AO-53, a fleet oiler.

For two years, Brownell was navigator of the ship and saw duty in the Pacific and Asian oceans.

While still in the Navy, in 1964, Brownell took a leave of absence, and he and Nancy drove to Los Angeles to work in the Brownells booth at the NRA Annual Convention and Meetings that year.

One of the products he helped market at the show was the new Latigo Sling, a rifle sling Brownells still sells to this day.

Brownell joined his father, F. B. (Bob) Brownell, in the family owned business, Brownell Industries, full-time in 1965.

Bob, an avid shooter and hunter and amateur gunsmith who tinkered with guns on the side, founded the company in 1939, the same year that Brownell was born.

Brownell was the second child and only son to Bob and his wife, Lois.

The firearms industry and gunsmithing were an integral part of life as Brownell grew up in Montezuma. His interest began at a young age, and it wasn’t long before he was involved in the family business, noted an article from NRA’s Shooting Illustrated.

In 1957 as a 17-year-old, Brownell appeared on the cover of The American Rifleman.

One of Brownells first major projects was laying out Big Book Catalog #18 — a mail-order annual his father launched in 1947 to address the growing demand for firearm parts and gunsmithing tools.

He was active in all parts of the business, and helped publish the first of the “Gunsmithing Kinks” series of books in 1969 under the name F. Brownell and Son.

He served as Brownells President for 24 years beginning in 1983, moving into the CEO role in 2007, when his son, Pete, became the President.

In 2012, Brownell passed the reins of CEO on to Pete and became the Chairman of the Board, a position he remained in until his passing.

Brownell served on the Montezuma City Council for 50 years beginning in 1965 and was mayor pro tem for much of his tenure.

He served in leadership positions on several boards including the Grinnell hospital board, the NRA Wittington Center, the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa, and many firearms industry related organizations including serving as president of the NRA Foundation.

He was also instrumental in providing the funding for a new library in Montezuma, which opened in 2005. The library was built in honor of his mother, Lois Brownell, and wife, Nancy Brownell.

He was also involved with the development and construction of new offices and 16,000 square foot of warehouse space on Front Street (Highway 63) in Montezuma in 1972, as well at later additions to the companies Montezuma campus.

In July 2013, Brownells donated $75,000 to help establish a gunsmith training program at Iowa Valley Community College in Grinnell.

Throughout his six decades in the firearms industry, Brownell was a champion of the gunsmithing industry, donating thousands to gun rights organizations and championing for second amendment rights all across the industry.

Friends and customers remember Brownell greeting “long lines of friends” at SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Convention and Meetings, championing gunsmithing and driving industry innovation, noted an article on Brownell’s legacy.

Brownell was also the recipient of numerous honors and awards and in 2014 was the recipient of the NRA’s Golden Bull's-eye Pioneer Award.

The honor recognizes unique, long-tenured individuals who have made a significant impact on the firearms and hunting communities by including new and innovative products and solutions.

Larry Weeks, a 36-year employee of Brownells, has fond memories of working at the Montezuma-based business.

In a job interview in November of 1978 with Brownell and his dad, Bob, Weeks said it was a whole day process that included his wife. The day featured a tour of Montezuma and meeting with a realtor to look at houses for sale and visiting with Brownell at his home.

“As we were leaving to head home, Brownell told me I had the job,” recalled Weeks. “I was supposed to start Jan. 2, 1979. Frank called on the first and told me they had 10 feet of snow on the ground with more coming. He told me not to try to get there. Told me to let the state get the roads plowed, then come.

“He really cared about his employees,” said Weeks. “I was fortunate to work there for 36 years. I worked with Bob, Frank and finally Pete. So many stories, and good times there. I'll miss Frank. The world is less without him.”

Sharon Gibson, who served as executive secretary for 35-years to three generations of the Brownell family, said her best memories have been working with the staff and with all the people she has dealt with through the years.

In a May 2004 Republican article, Gibson, who retired that year, said she was richly blessed, calling Brownells her second home.

“I’m mighty, mighty pleased that Sharon was always there for us — through crises and celebration,” Brownell said in the article.

“We’ve been through thick-and-thin together and managed to survive with our sense of humor still in intact,” said Gibson.

“It was my good fortune and privilege to make my entry in the gun industry working with Frank Brownell,” said Roy Hill, a former public relations employee at Brownells. “I am glad I got to know him and share some wonderful experiences with him. I would not be where I am now without my time at Brownells.”

“Mostly, I will miss his smile. And those notes. I kept them all,” said Mark Keefe, editorial director of the Keefe Report. “They will remind me of a man who rolled up his sleeves, built on a business started by his father and changed an industry. He was also my friend.”

His son, Pete, CEO of Brownells, said his dad was the kind of person who made you better just by being around him.

“My dad enjoyed a long life in Montezuma, adding to its culture where he could,” said Pete. “I’m glad to have worked with him all those years.”

Frank is survived by his sons, Bob, Pete and Matt, and their families