Official – Basketball
Glenn C. Brown was born in Lexington, KY, on August 24, 1957, to the late Harvey and Myrtle Brown. He attended Tates Creek High School and the University of Kentucky.
His officiating career began with refereeing Jr. Pro Basketball in 1979, joining the Bluegrass Basketball Association as a registered official in 1980. Once registered, Glenn began officiating middle school, freshman, and high school junior varsity basketball from 1980-1983. His early officiating successes led to his promotion to the high school basketball varsity level as he was called to officiate games in the 10th and 11th regions in 1984. During his tenure as a varsity official, Glenn was selected to officiate several KHSAA Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournaments, The All “A” Classic, and AAU Boys National Basketball Tournaments. These are some of the most widely respected opportunities for high school basketball officials at the city, state, and national levels.
In 1996, Glenn started officiating men’s college basketball games in the junior college, NAIA, and NCAA conferences. These successes led to his selection to officiate the NCAA (Division II) National Basketball Tournament in 2001 and 2003.
In addition to his state and national officiating opportunities, Glenn also worked several summers as an official in the Dirt Bowl at Douglass Park. He worked summer referee camps to help younger officials improve their mechanics and skills, become better high school officials, and prepare them to move into college officiating. Glenn continues to work with officials during the KHSAA Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournaments.
Along the way, Glenn credits several mentors who helped guide his basketball officiating career: LAASHOF Hall of Famers Brenda Garner Hughes (2022), C.B. Akins (2024), Don Byars (2023), Henry Bell (2024), Louis Stout (2023), and Burney Jenkins.
Currently, Glenn serves as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. In 2001, he became the first African American to be appointed as Jail Director in Fayette County, retiring in 2004 after a 29-year career in Corrections.
Glenn is married to Kimberly Parker-Brown and has two daughters, Brittany and Taelor, a son-in-law, Austin Zulauf, and three grandchildren, Arabella, Breaden, and Kayla. He attends St. John Missionary Baptist Church, sings in the choir, and is a member of the Brotherhood Ministry. He is also a member of the Men in Christ Community Choir and King Solomon Masonic Lodge #8.
