Arthur Northcutt Brown was an avid collector through-out his life. He compiled an extensive military collection, as well as other diverse collections ranging from beer mugs to Rotarian banners to Boy Scout memorabilia. Arthur gave his military collection to the Gregg County Historical Museum in May of 1984 and participated in the initial Exhibit design sessions.

As a fourth generation citizen of Longview, Arthur actively participated in and contributed to his community, just like his parents, Edward A. Brown and Jessie Northcutt Brown, his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. William Davis Northcutt, and his great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William George Northcutt.

Arthur attended schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Kaiserslautern, West Germany while his father was serving in the U.S. Army. Arthur graduated from Longview High School in 1961. He graduated from Texas Christian University where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.

Major Brown served two years in Germany, and one year (Dec. 1968 to Dec. 1969) in Tây Ninh, Vietnam with the 588th Engineer Battalion. Upon completion of his duties in Vietnam, Major Brown served as a TAC Officer as the Officers Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. At the time of his death, Major Brown was instructor of the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff School course in Longview.

Throughout his adult life, Arthur was active in many local organizations. Of particular interest to Arthur was his years as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout Master as Trinity Episcopal Church. He was also a Life Member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Longview Downtown Rotary Club, a Shriner and a Mason.