Gregg Brown Among BHS Alumni & Friends Foundation Hall of Fame Inductees
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on September 23, 2023
Gregg A. Brown has been named a member of the BHS Alumni & Friends Foundation Hall of Fame class of 2023. He is a 1965 graduate of Bridgeport High School and is the son of the late Elizabeth Vasicek Brown Chapman and G.A. Brown.
Following high school, Gregg attended and graduated in 1970 from the Culinary Institute of America at Yale University and while attending also took classes in theater and stage crafting.
After returning to the area, Gregg worked as a professional baker and cake decorator for Dorothy’s Pastries and Bonnie Belle’s Pastries. In addition to his job, he also directed plays for various theater groups such as the Stagecrafters and the Art Center.
In 1974 he directed his first non-musical play at Bridgeport High School, “The Matchmaker.” Gregg’s first musical was “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” which was performed on the stage in the gym. Other musicals included “Bye, Bye Birdie,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Pajama Game,” “Oklahoma!” and “The Music Man” to name a few.
Finally in 1996 the school received an auditorium, and the first play performed in this new venue was “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
Later, Gregg became the Harrison County Board of Education’s Artist in Residence for three years and was then hired by the Board for a full-time position which made him responsible for plays in all the County Schools.
After his retirement, Gregg returned to Bridgeport High School to direct “The Addams Family,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Sister Act,” with his final production being “Barnum”
“Throughout my directing career I was blessed with many people who helped me from the community but, we did it all for the kids,” Brown said.
This year's honorees also include Jon Griffith, Phil Dye, and Frank Edward Jenio. Inductees will be honored at an Oct. 7 banquet at "The O" by Oliverios. The menu will feature an Italian entree, sides, salad, and bread. Cake will be served. Tickets are $60 each. Purchase tickets HERE. The inductees will also be honored at the Friday, Oct. 6 BHS football game at Wayne Jamison field.
The BHS Hall of Fame is open to BHS graduates and non-BHS graduates. Alumnae must have benefited society or the community in which they live, excelled in their chosen field, or directly contributed to BHS through time or talent. Those not graduating from BHS musts have directly benefited BHS through time or talent. Nominees are accepted by the public and voted upon by BHS Alumni & Friends Foundation board of directors.
The banquet and al fundraisers held throughout the year benefit the foundation's scholarship fund, which has provided thousands of dollars to BHS seniors to be used toward their higher education goals.
