Owsley Brown Frazier

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Owsley Brown Frazier

Born May 7, 1935 (1935-05-07) (age 73)
Louisville, Kentucky
Nationality American
Occupation Retired executive, entrepreneur
Known for Philantropy

Owsley Brown Frazier is a philanthropist from Louisville, Kentucky USA who founded the Frazier International History Museum. He is retired from the board of directors of the Brown-Forman corporation, which his grandfather George Garvin Brown founded in 1870, and is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. He was raised in Louisville.

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[edit] Business career

Frazier was Vice-Chairman and the public face of Brown-Forman from 1983 until his retirement in 2000, but he remained on the board of directors. He first worked for the company as a trainee in 1955. After graduating from the University of Louisville he became the company's lawyer in 1960, then joined the board of directors and became director of personnel in 1964.[1]

Frazier owns Bittners, LLC a 150 year old interior design, architectural & furniture business in Louisville.

He has served as director of Greater Louisville Inc. and the Kentucky Economic Development Corporation.[1] He was an early co-chairman of the board to study building the Louisville waterfront arena.[2] He has also served on the board of Louisville-based Papa John's Pizza.[3]

[edit] Philanthropy

Frazier is recognized as one of the leading individual donors to Bellarmine University, Kentucky Country Day and the University of Louisville, of which he is a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees.[4] He is a leading donor to Jewish Hospital in Louisville, including the Frazier Rehab Institute, which is named after his mother.[5]

In 2004, it was estimated that he had given over $500 million to charity throughout his life.[6]

[edit] Weapon collection and museum

For much of his life, Frazier collected historic guns and knives. His collection began with a long rifle, made circa 1820 in Bardstown, Kentucky and given to him by his grandfather. This rifle was permanently lost in the 1974 Super Outbreak tornado which hit Louisville, and Frazier credits the event with sparking his interest in collecting historic weapons on a larger scale.[6][7] His collection included weapons such as Theodore Roosevelt's "Big Stick", a 1866 Winchester carbine owned by Buffalo Bill Cody and guns used by General George Armstrong Custer. Most of the weapons were from 1840 to 1910.[8]

In 2000, the Kentucky Historical Society asked him to present his collection in Frankfort, Kentucky. Thousands of people attended the exhibit, surprising Frazier and leading him to think about doing a long-term exhibition.[6] In 2001, he purchased two former warehouses in Downtown Louisville and announced plans to open a museum, initially called the Frazier Historical Arms Museum but later renamed the Frazier International History Museum once the Royal Armouries of Britain chose to display part of their collection at the Frazier. Frazier donated most of the $32 million in startup funds for the museum.

[edit] Gun dealer trial

In late 2007, a gun dealer and his wife went on trial in U.S. District Court on charges of defrauding Frazier by overcharging him for historic weapons. A third defendant, a gun expert, was charged with causing Frazier to file false tax returns by overestimating the value of weapons he was donating to the museum. The prosecution argued the dealer bilked Frazier and the museum out of $1.75 million through kickbacks and phony surcharges on gun sales, and that his wife "schmoozed" Frazier and discouraged him from talking to other experts who might tell him he was being defrauded. The defense argued Frazier was aware the dealer was profiting from the sales. The three defendants were acquitted of most charges, but the dealer was found guilty of failing to file a tax return.[9]

[edit] Political fundraising

Frazier has donated money and organized fundraisers for both Democrats such as Kentucky Governor Paul Patton and Republicans such as George W. Bush.[10] A fundraiser at his house in 1999 for Bush set the record for most money raised for a primary candidate in Kentucky, collecting over $650,000.[11]

From 2000 to 2004, he donated over $89,000 to political campaigns - nearly all of them Republican.[6]

[edit] Awards

Frazier holds honorary doctorates from the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University. He won the Louisville Urban League’s Equality Award in 1990.[12] In 2002 he was given the Founders Award, a lifetime achievement award and the highest honor given by the Louisville Historical League.[13]

[edit] Personal

Frazier lives in a house built by his grandfather in 1910 called "The Avish" in the suburban city of Harrods Creek, Kentucky. He also owns a 400-acre farm in Shelby County, Kentucky. His only marriage ended in a divorce, and he has three daughters. He has struggled with severe obesity for years and is confined to a wheelchair.[6]

Frazier is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the River Valley Club. He is a member of the first graduating class from Kentucky Country Day School and received a law degree from the University of Louisville.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Goetz, David. "Owsley Brown Frazier will retire from Brown-Forman", Courier-Journal, 2000-05-31, pp. 1D. 
  2. ^ Poynter, Chris. "U of L panel hears arena-options report", Courier-Journal, 2002-08-03. 
  3. ^ Goetz, David. "Schnatter's brother to resign from Papa John's board", Courier-Journal, 2003-04-15. 
  4. ^ Crawford, Eric. "Locked up and loaded: U of L, coach reach deal", Courier-Journal, 2000-11-30, pp. 1A. 
  5. ^ Pike, Bill. "Frazier rehab center plans to add 8 stories", Courier-Journal, 2001-05-29. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f Poynter, Chris. "The man and his museum", Courier-Journal, 2004-05-21. 
  7. ^ World-class collections combine in a human story. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  8. ^ Shafer, Sheldon. "Historical arms museum delays opening to better develop exhibits", Courier-Journal, 2002-10-08. 
  9. ^ Wolfson, Andrew. "Jury acquits gun dealer, wife on fraud charges", Courier-Journal, 2008-01-22. 
  10. ^ Loftus, Tim. "Brown-Forman and bank lead Patton donors' list", Courier-Journal, 1999-07-07, pp. 1B. 
  11. ^ Cross, Al. "Bush makes inroads in Kentucky", Courier-Journal, 1999-07-24. 
  12. ^ "Official Biography". Retrieved on 2008-01-20. 
  13. ^ Elson, Martha. "Downtown buildings, U of L houses make endangered list", Courier-Journal, 2003-01-01.