Thomas Brown:
CLASS OF 1966
Woodrow Wilson High SchoolClass of 1966
Camden, NJ
Pyne Poynt Junior High SchoolClass of 1963
Camden, NJ
Sewell Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Sewell, NJ
William F. Powell Elementary SchoolClass of 1959
Camden, NJ
Thomas's Story
Life
Hello Class of 1966 at WWHS. It has been a long journey from the halls of WWHS to the present. My wife Fabiene, a retired middle school music teacher and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary next year. We have three children. My daughter 34 and two sons 28 and 23. All three of my children live locally with my youngest son, a Rutgers senior lives at home. I Have been a NJ Superior Court Judge in Camden County for the past 16 years and am scheduled to retire in April 2013. I am the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division and the backup Assignment Judge for Camden County Superior Court. Needless to say each day presents a new challenge.
My high school days unfortunately were not as productive as they should have been. Although I had teriffic and dedicated teachers, it wasn't until I graduated from High School that I learned to appreciate them. My most influential teachers were my first, fourth and fifth grade teachers at Powell School, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Lucille N. Hall and Mrs. Laura DeShields. It was at Powell School that I met my lifelong friends Robert Taylor and Carvol "Coach" Coleman.
I have many fond memories of Mr. Marley my band teacher and all of the football and basketball games during my three years at Wilson. I especially remember the basketball games and Gary Brown, Joe Carpenter and Bill Hill, who were members of that championship team. I also remember dating L. O. as well as the prom and dances.
College
I graduated from Wilson in 1966. Following graduation, I attended the Institute of Computer Management (I.C.M.) in Philadelphia for one year. Joe Carpenter also attended ICM at that time. After graduating from computer school I enlisted in the U.S. Army where I served for four years. After my Army discharge I attended Rutgers College Camden, where I graduated with a degree in History in 1975. I later attended Rutgers Law School in Newark where I obtained my Law Degree.
Workplace
After graduating from Rutgers Law School Newark, I was hired by the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., where I worked as a labor lawyer. I was later transferred to the regional office in Philadelphia, PA. I worked for the Labor Department for approximately eleven years...Expand for more
. As a labor lawyer, I litigated cases under various Federal Statutes including: OSHA, MSHA, Longshore and Harbor Workers Act, Black Lung Benefits, Migrant Worker's Act, and Employment Discrimination, throughout the United States. In 1985, I became the first U.S. Department of Labor lawyer to litigate cases in Italy.
In 1991, I was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of NJ, assigned to the Criminal Division. I remained a Federal Prosecutor until 1997. During that time I prosecuted numerous cases involving drugs, one of the first R.I.C.O. murder cases in New Jersey, firearms, bank robberies, counterfeiting, various frauds and other federal offenses.
In 1997 I was appointed as a NJ Superior Court Judge in Camden County, where I was Assigned to the Family Division. I am presently assigned to the Criminal Division where I am currently the Presiding Judge and backup Assignment Judge.
Military
In 1967 I enlisted in the US Army Security Agency. I completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After boot camp, I was transferred to Arlington Hall Virginia and after training at the National Security Agency in Maryland, I was transferred to Fort Clayton, Canal Zone, Republic of Panama. I spent approximately eighteen months in Panama as a computer operator. While in Panama, I experienced a Military Coup by the Panamanian military. In 1969 I was transferred to Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia, which is presently Eritria, by way of Athens Greece. I spent approximately two years in Africa, having traveled extensively throughout the continent. In 1971 I was honorably discharged as an SP/6 E-6 Sargeant. It was while in the military that I began to realize the importance of an education. While in the military I became a voratious reader, rereading many of the great works of math, philosophy, literature and history that I took for granted during high school. It was in the military that I matured and gained a greater appreciation of the world and its many cultures. Most importantly, I am proud to be an alumnus of good old WWHS
In 2013 I retired from the Bench after 16 years. My wife and I spend time traveling extensively throughout the world. Next stop Panama and Costa Rica.
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