Columbus State to rename Delaware Hall on its downtown campus in honor of foundational leader Dr. Harold Brown
The famed Tuskegee airman and decorated military career veteran’s leadership substantially contributed to the early development and growth of the college
Campus News | Friday, March 20, 2026
Columbus State Community College today announced the renaming of Delaware Hall to
Brown Hall, in honor of the late Dr. Harold H. Brown (1924–2023), a foundational academic
leader, decorated military hero, and lifelong champion of community college education.
While widely celebrated nationally as a World War II Tuskegee Airman, Dr. Brown’s lasting legacy in central Ohio is deeply rooted in his 21-year tenure at the institutions that became Columbus State, where he played a pivotal role in transforming a small technical school into a leading destination for higher education in the region.
“Dr. Brown’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Columbus State,” said David Harrison, president of the college. “From his heroism as a Tuskegee Airman to his leadership in helping to guide Columbus State’s evolution into a comprehensive community college, Dr. Brown’s impact endures in both the institution and the lives it continues to change. Naming one of the college’s largest buildings in his honor ensures that future generations of students will be inspired by his lifelong commitment to learning, service, and accessibility.”
Foundational leadership at Columbus State
Following a distinguished 23-year military career, Dr. Brown joined the Columbus Area Technical School (CATS) in 1965 as a physics and electronics instructor. Joining a student body of only about 150 students, he was one of the institution’s first Black faculty members. His expertise led to rapid promotions, serving first as chair of the electrical engineering program and then as division chair of Engineering and Science Technologies as the school evolved into the Columbus Technical Institute (CTI).
Appointed as vice president of Academic Affairs in 1974, Dr. Brown worked alongside then-President Harold Nestor to dramatically expand the college’s footprint, successfully doubling student enrollment from approximately 2,000 to 4,000 within just two years. A fierce advocate for accessible and practical education, he championed and founded the college’s interpreting program in 1979, paving the way for expanded accessibility initiatives.
By the time he retired in 1986, Dr. Brown had helped guide the institution through its major developmental phases—from CATS to CTI—laying the essential academic groundwork for its final transition to Columbus State in 1987.
“When I think of Harold’s life and legacy, one word comes to mind: service,” said Dr. Marsha Bordner, Brown’s widow and president emerita of Terra State Community College. “From his service to our country as a Tuskegee Airman—helping break barriers in the military—to his years serving students at Columbus State at a time of great innovation for the institution, Harold believed deeply in using his talents to make a difference for others. It means so much to see his legacy honored in this way.”
Military heroism and lifelong learning
Before dedicating his life to higher education, Dr. Brown served his country with widely noted distinction. A Minneapolis native, he overcame tremendous adversity to graduate from the Tuskegee Institute’s segregated pilot training program in 1944. Flying with the famed 332nd Fighter Group (the “Red Tails”), he completed 30 combat missions before being shot down over enemy territory and held as a prisoner of war until his liberation in 1945.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1965. Demonstrating his own commitment to learning, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Ohio University, followed by a master’s and a Ph.D. in vocational-technical education from The Ohio State University. After retiring from Columbus State, Dr. Brown founded an educational consulting firm that he ran for 26 years and later co-authored with his wife his memoir, Keep Your Airspeed Up: The Story of a Tuskegee Airman.
A smiling new president Harold Nestor joins Vice President for Student Services Mike Leymaster and Vice President for Academic Affairs Harold Brown in examining the model of Franklin Hall, which would soon be completed and house their offices.
About Delaware Hall
Located at 499 Grove Street, the building to be named for Dr. Brown has been a cornerstone of the downtown campus for 50 years. Built in 1976, it was the third newly constructed academic facility built specifically for the college. Originally dedicated in 1977 simply as the “Business and Automotive Facility,” it was officially renamed Delaware Hall in 1979. As the college enters a new era of awareness and community engagement for its Delaware Campus, and as downtown’s Delaware Hall undergoes major interior improvements, the timing for renaming the building is ideal.
Standing today as one of Columbus State's largest buildings, the multi-story facility has constantly adapted to serve student needs. Over the decades, its footprint has housed everything from the original college bookstore, cafeteria, and fitness center to the campus Police Department, alongside diverse academic programs spanning engineering, business, physical sciences and automative technology. The building will soon undergo a major modernization project as part of the college’s ongoing capital improvement campaign.
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