In the early years of Aleph Zadik Aleph in Kansas City, two brothers helped shape not only a chapter, but a legacy of leadership, service and achievement.
On May 9, 2026, Henry Brown and Jacob “Jack” Brown —sons of Meyer and Katie Brown — will be posthumously inducted into the Mnookin Memorial AZA #2 Hall of Fame at the Fourth Annual Marty Awards.
Henry Brown’s connection to AZA #2 begins at the very beginning. A charter member of the chapter in 1924, he was among the young Jewish leaders who helped establish what would become the second-oldest AZA chapter in the world. Inducted on June 21, 1924 — just weeks after the chapter received its official charter — Henry helped lay the foundation for a movement rooted in brotherhood, leadership and Jewish identity.
Born in Jersey City on April 5, 1907, he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Kansas in 1928. He went to the University of Michigan on a Rockefeller Teaching Fellowship, receiving his Ph.D. there in 1933 while working as an assistant professor.
A brilliant chemist, he went on to become an internationally recognized leader in electrochemistry. His innovations in chrome and nickel plating transformed industries, from automotive manufacturing to wartime production. He even contributed to the Manhattan Project during World War II as a research chemist, developing porous nickel screens for separating atomic particles. Holding more than 90 U.S. patents, Henry’s work quite literally helped the modern world shine.
According to The New York Times, Brown “helped make the American Dream a gleaming reality by finding new ways of keeping chromium plate bright and shiny.”
Henry Brown graduated from Manual High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1924 — part of the same class as Philip Klutznick.
A dynamic and accomplished AZA leader, Jack served as Aleph Godol (president) for two terms in 1928, and distinguished himself not only locally, but on the international stage. In 1928, he earned second place in the International AZA Oratory Contest, showcasing his intellect and passion. The following year, he won the District Oratory Contest He also competed at the highest levels in debate, reaching the finals of the National AZA Debate Contest in 1927 alongside fellow AZA #2 member Joseph Rosenzweig.
That commitment carried into Jack’s distinguished professional and civic life. A founding partner of a prominent Kansas City law firm, he became a respected attorney known for integrity, fairness, and dedication. Beyond his legal career, Jack was a central figure in the Jewish community, helping to found the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and the Jewish Community Foundation, and playing a leading role in the local Zionist movement. Known for his humility and generosity, he gave not only of his resources, but of his heart.
“Henry and Jack represent the very foundation of what Two’s AZA has stood for over the past century — leadership, service, innovation, and a deep commitment to making the world better,” said David Wexler, advisor of Kansas City AZA #2. “They helped create a standard of excellence that has endured for generations and continues to inspire everything we do today.”
The Marty Awards will take place Saturday evening, May 9, at the Jewish Community Center. To make a donation or purchase a ticket, visit twosaza.com/martyawards.
