First elected in 1950, he was re-elected eight times. In 1970, Brown defeated OhioDemocratJohn F. Kennedy. In 1974, Brown won re-election by defeating Democrat Tony P. Hall. In 1978, Brown lost his seat when he was narrowly defeated by Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. in a race that required a recount.
He died in 1984 at his Columbus home of cancer, aged 78.[1]