Former Zane State President Killed in Plane Crash

A former president of Zane State College has passed away following a plane crash near Heath.

Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Granville Post said 74-year-old Paul Brown succumbed to his injuries after his 2005 Cessna Skylane crashed into a wooded area near 484 Linnville Road, just east of State Route 13.

After news of his passing Zane State College put out this statement, “Dr. Paul R. Brown…leader, mentor, friend. Through his vision of what this community could be and his belief in shaping a better future, he touched so many lives throughout Southeastern Ohio. Our college mourns this loss and our hearts are with his wife Linda and family.”

Congressman Bill Johnson also released a statement that read in part, “I am heartbroken to hear the news that Paul Brown passed away. Paul was a fierce advocate for Muskingum County. The number of lives he positively impacted through his passion for education, military service, mentorship and public service and innumberable.”

Congressman Troy Balderson said, “My heart breaks upon learning of the sudden death of Dr. Paul Brown. He was relentless champion for higher education and leaves behind an enduring legacy at Zane State. It was an honor to work alongside him for so many years.”

Brown had just departed the Newark-Heath airport around 1:30PM when the accident occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash. Dr. Brown was the fifth president of Muskingum Area Technical College/Zane State College from 2004-2015.