If you live in Danieley Center, you’ve probably seen him before. He’s friendly and usually has a book in hand between 1 and 7 p.m. Tram driver William Browns is especially fond of murder mysteries. He enjoys the thrill of the chase and tries to solve the mystery before the characters do.

Not only is Browns intrigued by a good sleuth novel, but also by the gratitude of students.

“I was surprised by how nice they are,” he said. He describes most students as courteous and says they greet and thank him as they enter and leave. “I’ve even gotten a couple of thank you notes.”

“I like Bill because he’s always in a good mood and seems to really enjoy his job,” freshman Aly Speir said. “He’s so friendly and personable!”

After residing in Pennsylvania for several years, Browns and his wife, Linda, a retired nurse, moved to Gibsonville in 2003 hoping for milder weather. Browns later met several members of the university staff through the Elon Community Church on N. Williamson Avenue. As a retired small business owner, Browns was looking for a day job when he spotted a newspaper advertisement in search of drivers for the Danieley Center tram.

However, before driving the tram, Browns worked as service manager for two large trucking chains. He also founded Precision Services, an automotive repair service similar to Jiffy Lube in 1998. He knew that his son, Mark, was interested in running such a business, so Browns left it to him when he retired.

The move also brought him closer to two of his children. His other son lives in Mebane and is an engineer for Duke University. His daughter Jodie, a Burlington resident, is a special education teacher. Browns also has eight grandchildren with whom he enjoys spending time.

Browns’s interests also extend into golf, so in his free time Browns roams the local golf turf with his family or neighbors. His usual hangout is Stony Creek. Although Browns admits he’s not especially skilled with a golf club, he still enjoys the camaraderie of the sport.

“They all laugh when I hit the ball, but I still like to play,” he said.

Always a fan of the outdoors, Browns also enjoys hunting and fishing. He owns a hunting camp in Pennsylvania and often goes to the Buckhorn Rifle & Pistol Club to go trap shooting with his grandson.

“I like the challenge– stalking your prey and trying to get a decent shot,” he said.
Whenever he finds time, Browns also takes a trip to Emerald Isle and every few years he’ll find his way to the Caribbean, his favorite vacation spot. He frequently goes snorkeling and takes day trips across the islands to discover the aspects that are less touristy. Brown’s children are SCUBA certified as well and enjoy the activity whenever possible.

The Ohio native was born and raised in Canfield. After high school, Browns studied business management at Youngstown State University, an urban campus which he describes as very different from Elon because it was mainly a commuter school.

Youngstown also did not have the same sense of community for which Elon is known. He worked while attending school, first for a service station and then for the local steel mill like many of his fellow students. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed following the successful basketball and football teams.

Reporter: Rachel Cieri - 02/08/07