FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — The public is giving its last goodbye to former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. The normally bustling and busy Capitol grounds took on a more quiet, solemn, and somber mood Tuesday afternoon that was lifted by the smiles of colleagues from over the years.

Brown is lying in state in the Capitol rotunda, a Kentucky state police guard at his side, his casket placed only feet away from the office he called home for 4 years.

“John Y. is John Y. He has his own reputation, his own ideas, and his own way of doing things,” former Gov. Martha Layne Collins told FOX 56.

A salesperson at heart who broke the mold; that’s how many remember Brown.

“He came in, did a lot of things differently. He brought good ideas, brought in some new fresh blood. So I learned a lot from him,” Collins said.

His former lieutenant governor was among the dozens of mourners that paid their respects, representing generations of leadership from not just politics but every corner of Kentucky culture

“We had a chair in our living room and it was called johns chair and he and I spent many-many hours debating UK athletics, politics, the state of the world, the state of the state, and so on,” former UK baseball player and founder of Host Communications Jim Host told FOX 56.

Host called Brown a friend for more than 60 years. He first met him at UK while Brown was studying law and selling encyclopedias.

“The last time we were together was about two weeks ago Wednesday when he was in the 10-floor ICU. I went to see him and there was no one else in the room. We talked for an hour and a half and he said, ‘this is the happiest I’ve ever been,’” Host said.

Host said he will miss Brown’s positivity and the values that they shared despite being from different political backgrounds. But it was not just Brown’s closest friends paying respects, but also distant acquaintances. Susan Sisk brought family ties all the way from California.

“My mom worked for John Y. for 8 years and he and his wife were always just very kind people. They treated her very well and she loved them. So kind of for her I just wanted to say goodbye,” Sisk said.

This was the only opportunity for the public to pay their respects. On Wednesday the Capitol will be closed for a private service that will be carried live on KET. That service begins at 11 a.m.