Tom Brown Jr.

Thomas Haughey Brown Jr. (January 29, 1950 – August 16, 2024) was an American naturalist, tracker, survivalist, and author from New Jersey, where he ran the Tom Brown Jr. Tracker School.

Early life Brown was born in Toms River, New Jersey on January 29, 1950, From the age of seven, as Brown wrote in his books, he and his childhood friend Rick were trained in tracking and wilderness survival by Rick's grandfather, "Stalking Wolf" (who Brown stated was Lipan Apache). Brown wrote that Stalking Wolf died when Brown was 17, and that Rick was killed in an accident in Europe shortly thereafter.

Career Brown spent the next ten years working odd jobs to support his wilderness adventures. He then set out to find other people in New Jersey who were interested in his experiences. Initially Brown met with little success, but was eventually called on to help locate a crime suspect. Though the case won him national attention, he and authorities in the Ramsey, New Jersey area were subsequently sued for 5 million dollars for charging the wrong person. According to People magazine, "He stalks men and animals, mostly in New Jersey." Most classes offered by Tracker School are held in Primitive Camp or Joseph Citta Boy Scout Camp, both of which are located near Waretown, New Jersey. However, classes are also offered in California and Florida. Workshops involve Brown's versions of Plains Indian ceremonies, including the sweat lodge and vision quest.

Personal life and death In July 1977, Tom Brown Jr. married Judy Duck Ford, 33. At the time Judy had a daughter Kerry, 15, and a son Paul, 11, from a previous marriage. The two had one child, Tom Brown III, together. Later, Brown married his third wife, Celeste Brown.

Publications and media Brown has written 18 books. His first book The Tracker, in 1978, chronicled his coming of age. Reader's Digest printed a condensed version of the story and provided information about Brown's new Tracker School. Tom Brown's books are published by Penguin Books: The Tracker (1978, 1986), The Search (1980, 2001), Field Guide to Living With the Earth (1984), Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants (1986), Guide to City and Suburban Survival (1986), Field Guide to Living with the Earth (1986), Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking (1986), Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness (1987), Field Guide to Wilderness Survival (1987), The Vision (1988), Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children (1989), The Quest (1991), The Journey (1992), Grandfather (1993, 2001), , audio book (2007) Awakening Spirits (1994), The Way of the Scout (1995), The Science and Art of Tracking (1999), Case Files of the Tracker (2003), Guide to Healing the Earth (2019),

The Mother Earth News website provides these articles by Tom Brown Jr.: Issue 71, Sep–Oct 1981: Wilderness Shelter Issue 72, Nov–Dec 1981: Finding Water Issue 73, Jan–Feb 1982: Fire Starting Issue 74, Mar–Apr 1982: Hunting & Traps Issue 75, May–Jun 1982: Edible Plants Issue 76, Jul–Aug 1982: Survival Cooking Issue 77, Sep–Oct 1982: Animal Tracking Issue 79, Jan–Feb 1983: Natural Cordage Issue 87, May–Jun 1984: Bow Making Issue 93, May–Jun 1985: Survival Skills Issue 95, Sep–Oct 1985: Advanced Shelters

CBS News reports: 24 June 2005 6 December 2006