Brown Shipyard

In 1942, after spending a few decades working together in the construction industry, Texas brothers Herman and George Rufus Brown formed the Brown Shipbuilding Company.

The Browns jumped immediately into the war effort.  During the years of World War II, the company and its employees constructed more than 350 Navy vessels.  At the peak of the war, Brown Shipyard employed about 25,000 workers and was recognized with a presidential citation for its excellent service to the U.S. military.

The Brown Brothers branched out after the war, purchasing the Big and Little Inch pipelines from the government and forming the Texas Eastern Transmission Company.  The company became quite well-known during the 1950s for constructing United States air and naval bases (in Spain, France, and Guam) as well as roads, dams, bridges, petrochemical plants, and large offshore drilling platforms. In 1961, the company won the planning contract for the $200 million Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston.

Brown Shipyard was purchased in 1962 by the Haliburton Company of Dallas who continued to operate the yard under its original name.  At the time of acquisition, Brown had annual revenues in excess of $5.5 billion.

Individuals who were employed by Brown Shipyard worked hard at their jobs.  Many performed arduous tasks in tight quarters without benefit of good ventilation.  Others worked in dangerous jobs without protective gear such as gloves or masks.  Because of this, dozens upon dozens of shipyard workers have developed occupational diseases, such as mesothelioma, caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, often found in various items onboard ships.

If you were employed at Brown’s Texas-based shipyard and have developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, take time to educate yourself and your loved ones about your disease and its treatment.  You’ll also want to learn more about your legal rights as a meso victim.  Order our free Mesothelioma Information Kit for more details.