Identity area
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Authorized form of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Robert Arthur Brown, 1886-1948, was born in Point Levis, Quebec. He began his electrical career in 1901 with Westinghouse Electric Company in Pennsylvania, USA. He moved to Calgary in 1906 as superintendent of the North West Electric Company. In 1907 he married Christina McLaughlin, and they had four children, Ronald M., Neil, Lois (Mostyn-Brown), ?-1987, and Robert Arthur, Jr., 1914-1972. He spent from 1907 to 1911 in Nelson, British Columbia as the city's electrical superintendent. He returned to Calgary in 1911 and was appointed superintendent of the city's Electric Light Department. In 1921 he was also appointed manager of the Calgary Street Railway Department.
Brown retired from both positions in 1937. In 1936 he began his involvement in the oil industry. His company, Turner Valley Royalties, made the first crude oil strike at Turner Valley, Alberta on June 16, 1936. He became president of Brown, Moyer and Brown Ltd., Federal Petroleum Ltd., Coastal Oils Ltd., and associated companies. Under his leadership, 23 crude oil wells were drilled in the field. On his death his son, Robert Arthur Brown, Jr., took over the family oil interests. R. A. Brown Sr was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2014.
For further information see "Robert 'Streetcar' Brown Sr. and Robert 'Bobby' Brown Jr" in Scoundrels and Scallywags : Characters from Alberta's Past / Brian Brennan. -- Calgary : Fifth House, 2002, p. 94-100.