Brown Military Academy
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John Brown University
2000 W. University St.,
Siloam Springs, AR 7276
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
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Brown Military Academy, a military preparatory school, was originally named San Diego Army and Navy Academy by founder Colonel Thomas A. Davis. The academy opened its doors Nov. 23, 1910 in Pacific Beach, Calif., with only 13 students.
In 1914, West Point and Annapolis accredited the school, allowing men to attend with no extra testing. By 1930, the academy had over 38 acres, 550 cadets, an added junior college and assets worth $500,000, making it the fifth largest military school in the U.S. The academy was called “West Point of the West” during this time.
Dr. John E. Brown bought the school for $600,000 in 1937 after foreclosure in 1936. Renamed Brown Military Academy, the school instilled responsibility, leadership and integrity and gained recognition for its scholastic achievements. The Department of Defense recognized the Brown Military Academy for outstanding academic and military studies as an “Honor Military Academy,” enabling the school to nominate candidates to all four United States Military Academies.
In 1958, the campus was moved from Pacific Beach to Glendora, Calif., where the city gave honor to the Brown Military Academy and its fallen heroes at a memorial dedication. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President Ronald W. Reagan also visited the Glendora campus.
Overall, the institution graduated about 5,000 students from 1911 to 1958, before closing its doors for good in 1968. Graduates have served during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam Wars.
Doug Halbert '50 Adjutant BMA Alumni Association | BMAAlumni@gmail.com | 770-658-7614
BMA alumni still living.
BMA cadets who have died. (The accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed.)
The following updates were collected from 2002-2004.
John Brown University admits persons to its programs and activities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, or gender in the administration of education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-sponsored programs.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.