Michael O. Brown to Receive Distinguished Alumni Award From ECU on May 11

ADA, Oklahoma, April 19 -- East Central University issued the following news release:

A qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table for 40 years, East Central University alumnus Michael O. Brown will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award on Friday, May 11, at the 2018 Evening of Honors and Recognition in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Brown will also address candidates for bachelor's and master's degrees on Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.

"This is the greatest honor I could receive because of my love for East Central," said Brown. "To be honored among other recipients is special. It is something that was on my bucket list."

A 1970 graduate of ECU, Brown launched his Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance business July 1 of that same year. The business ultimately merged with MassMutual in 1995 and is still going strong.

"Michael's love for ECU shows in his enthusiasm and dedication to his alma mater," said ECU President Katricia G. Pierson. "He is not only a friend to the university but an avid supporter in so many ways."

In earning a spot at the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table for 40 years, Brown has held numerous committee chairmanship positions. Additionally, he was Past Agent of the Year for Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State Association of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and was twice elected to the board of NAIFA as trustee twice for two terms.

Brown has served as president of both the Oklahoma City and Oklahoma State Association for NAIFA.

He was on the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges for 10 years from 1991-2001.

Brown is a member of the ECU Alumni Association and has provided a Legacy Gift of Life Insurance to the ECU Foundation, Inc. and has made numerous contributions to other ECU functions.

He says he loves ECU for various reasons.

"One is because of the last friendships I have made from it," Brown said. "There is the diversity of the classes, the caring of the professors and the small class sizes. For me, its once a Tiger always a Tiger. One of my biggest thrills is to see the band march down the hill on football game day. It still gives me chills."

Brown currently serves on boards for the Infant Crisis Center, Oklahoma City YWCA Investment Committee and Rainbow Fleet. He formerly served on board for the Oklahoma City Downtown YMCA and was founder of the Thursday Morning Business Boosters.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Brown is a 1966 graduate of Sulphur High School. He is married with two stepdaughters and six grandchildren. He has been an active member of Crown Heights United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City for 47 years and has served in numerous administrative positions.

Brown also enjoys golfing and loves dogs.