Paul Brown historical marker gets approved; cost to be fully covered by grant

NORWALK — A state historical marker honoring legendary NFL and college football coach Paul Brown is coming to the city of Norwalk. Ohio History Connection — formerly known as Ohio Historical Society — notified Mayor Dave Light and the Paul Brown Birthplace Committee in a June 22 letter that the application has been approved and will receive full funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The marker, which will look like the historical marker for Norwalk's West Main Street and other history plaques around the state, costs $3,585. The entire process, which includes both vetting the provided text for historical accuracy and casting the bronze sign, takes about a year. The committee aims to have the sign in place on West Main Street near Suhr Park in time for the 115th anniversary of the late Paul Brown's birth on Sept. 7, 1908. He was born to parents Lester and Ida Brown in their home at 7 West Elm Street. With installation of the historical marker, the committee is planning an "unveiling event" and is hoping to create an entire weekend of events for Labor Day weekend 2023 to honor one of the most successful and influential figures in the history of college and professional football. The 10-step marker application, which required extensive research and footnotes, was completed by committee member Kathy Root. The paperwork was filed with OHC in Columbus on April 29. Mayor Dave Light expressed his enthusiasm for the thumbs-up on a birthplace sign in Norwalk. "Outstanding!" Light said. "This is a big win for our committee with the approval of the historical marker." Laura Russell, Historical Markers Coordinator at Ohio History Connection, congratulated the group on its successful application, noting that the process is both lengthy and careful. "Between November 2022 and November 2023, our staff will be working to review sources and finalize your marker text," Russell said. "We strive to ensure historical accuracy, economy of language, readability, and relevance for readers of your marker today and in the future. "While the Ohio History Connection reserves the right to revise the submitted marker text, we promise to keep you involved throughout … you will be given a chance to review changes, answer questions about research, and generally be a part of our process," she noted. The committee has, since its formation in January, finalized a logo designed by South Central graduate Taylor Wilhelm, communicated with Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown, visited both the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Brown was inducted in 1967, and the Massillon Museum, which has an area dedicated to Brown. In addition to coaching at Massillon Washington High School and Ohio State University, Brown was the first coach of the team named for him, the Cleveland Browns, and founder and head coach of the Bengals. Perhaps more than any other person, Brown is considered to be responsible for making pro-football coaching the exact science it is today. The committee is searching for grant funding from foundations and other sources toward its goal of a commissioning a life-size statue of Paul Brown to join the historical marker in the designated uptown area. Additional plaques and signage about Brown's football legacy are also expected to be included at the site. The logo created by Wilhelm features a silhouette of Brown in his signature fedora hat imposed over a maple-leaf outline with the texture of a football colored inside. The leaf represents Norwalk's nickname as "The Maple City" — a reflection of Main Street lined with maple trees originally planted in the 1830s by city founder Platt Benedict. Future information and details can also be found at the committee's Facebook page at facebook.com/PaulBrownBirthplaceCommittee.