Projo Politics Blog

Jim Brown will always be remembered by football fans of a certain age as the best running back of his time, and perhaps any time. Brown’s dazzling rushes enlivened many a dark late autumn Sunday afternoon in the 1960s in Yankee stadium in epic games between his Cleveland Browns and the Tittle-to-Shofner New York Giants.

Brown is 72 now, but he still has the charisma of his more youthful days. He was in Rhode Island last week to attend the annual fundraising dinner held by the local chapter of the ALS Association, which raises money for research on the fatal disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, after the famed Yankee slugger.

Brown, a Syracuse lacrosse and football standout, was in the state at the invitation of his old friend, former House Speaker John B. Harwood, of Pawtucket. When Harwood was speaker, Brown came to the State House to talk about his work with inner-city youth gang members.

Seated at Harwood’s table at least week’s event was former Gov. Lincoln Almond and his wife, Marilyn Almond.

Almond said in an interview that he was glad to see Harwood again and hear Brown.

“It was great to see the governor again,” said Harwood. “He looks great,” a reference to all the weight the burly Almond has shed since leaving the State House in 2003.

Harwood said his connection to Brown was forged via New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick. Belichick was a fraternity brother at Wesleyan University of William Devereaux, the prominent lawyer and lobbyist who is a lifelong friend of Harwood. “I know him through the Billy Devereaux connection,” said Harwood.

--By Scott MacKay
Journal staff writer

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