Sarah Morris Brown – Graduated 1961; Inducted 2023
Sarah Morris Brown graduated AHS in 1961, when she was only 16. Following her freshman year at Mount Union College, transferred Barnard Columbia University, she College, NYC, where in 1965 she received a degree in History. Next Sarah attended Case Western Reserve University Law School, being one of the two women in the class of 120. Upon her graduation in 1968, she married Charles Brown and chose to be a stay-at-home mother with her three children. As the children matured, Sarah became more involved in public service.
Among her accomplishments are two terms on the Alliance City Board of Education and service as co-chair for a successful 6-mil levy campaign. She was also assisted with starting a Head Start program in the old Franklin School.
“Closest to her heart” is her involvement with the operation of the Alliance High School Alumni Foundation and the allocation of scholarships. She served as a trustee since the Foundation’s inception in 1985, including being board president for more than 20 years. Sarah was part of the committee of mothers that initiated the beginning of the Academic Recognition Dinner for Alliance High School’s ‘Top 10 percent,’ which has been emulated by many schools, local and far reaching.
In addition to serving the Alliance Community, Sarah was a founding board member of Mary Regula’s National First Ladies Library in Canton and was on the board of the Stark Education Partnership for 25 years. She was named a Pathfinder through Alliance City Schools, and has been named an Urban Icon. Adding to these are the 25 years she served as an elected member of the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee, including 10 years as its treasurer, and also 10 years as a gubernatorial appointee to the Ohio Ethics Committee, 3 years as president. Topping these off are the 4 Republican National Conventions for which she served as a delegate and being the proud guest of George W. and Laura Bush, and Janet Weir Creighton at the White House East Room.
Public service for others is why Sarah is member of the AHS Distinguished Alumni.