A legacy etched in campus history: Columbus State dedicates Brown Hall
College celebrates the impact of Dr. Harold H. Brown, former college leader, war hero and educator
Campus News | Friday, September 18, 2026
Above: Karen Jackson, the daughter of Harold Brown, provides heartfelt remarks from the podium during the dedication ceremony on Sept. 18. A replica of the plaque that will be installed in Brown Hall sits to the right.
Decades after helping build the academic foundation of Columbus State Community College, the late Dr. Harold H. Brown will have his name permanently woven into the campus landscape.
Columbus State will host a dedication ceremony Friday to officially inaugurate Brown Hall (formerly Delaware Hall) and unveil the design for a bronze plaque celebrating Dr. Brown’s extraordinary life as a historically significant combat aviator, pioneering educator, and senior institutional administrator.
The ceremony brings together Dr. Brown’s family – including his widow, Dr. Marsha Bordner – alongside college leaders, teaching and support employees, alumni, and civic leaders to reflect on a career defined by breaking barriers and creating opportunity for others.
“Harold’s life was an ongoing masterclass in perseverance, humility, and purpose,” said Dr. Marsha Bordner, widow of Dr. Harold Brown and Terra State Community College president emerita. “He never sought the spotlight; his greatest reward was opening doors for young people who simply needed a chance to learn and thrive. Having Brown Hall bear his name – and having his story permanently displayed here – ensures that his passion for education will continue lifting up students for generations to come.”
“Every student who enters Brown Hall will be walking into a building that carries the name of a true American hero and a cornerstone of Columbus State’s history,” said Dr. David T. Harrison, Columbus State president. “Dr. Brown helped build the academic foundation that allows tens of thousands of Central Ohioans to pursue a better life today. Dedicating this hall and unveiling this permanent tribute ensures his standard of excellence, courage, and accessibility remains at the heart of our campus for decades to come.”
The college is planning a major renovation of Brown Hall in coming years that will create a new hub for academic support and student success activities. Details of the overhaul are still being determined as part of Columbus State’s comprehensive campus improvement program supported by local voter-approved funding. The building currently is home to a variety of academic programs, including the popular Automotive Technology program, which is slated to move into a new building in 2029.
Long before Dr. Brown guided the rapid growth of Columbus State, he served his country in the skies over Europe during World War II. As a pilot with the famed 332nd Fighter Group — the Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” — he flew 30 combat missions before being shot down and held as a prisoner of war. After a 23-year career in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Brown turned his focus toward higher education, arriving at the fledgling Columbus Area Technical School in 1965 as an instructor in electronics and physics. The school later evolved into Columbus State.
Dr. Brown’s impact quickly transformed the college’s trajectory. Rising through the ranks from department chair to Vice President of Academic Affairs in 1974, Dr. Brown oversaw curriculum expansions that saw student enrollment double in just two years.
In 1979, recognizing a vital regional need, he spearheaded the establishment of the college’s interpreter education program, embedding accessibility into the core of Columbus State’s mission.
Over his 21 years of service, Dr. Brown served as a key architect in guiding the institution from a technical institute into the comprehensive community college it is today.
The September 18 ceremony will culminate in the formal unveiling of a specially commissioned decorative plaque to be installed within the rechristened building. The plaque documents Dr. Brown’s journey from Tuskegee to Columbus State, serving as a permanent source of inspiration for thousands of students passing through its doors each semester.
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