No runners profile of the Westerly area would be
complete without Tarzan Brown. His Indian name was
Deerfoot and how appropriate it was. He was a two time
winner of the Boston Marathon. He passed John Kelley on
Newtown hill to win in1936. It then became known as
Heartbreak Hill. He won with a new record time in 1939
breaking the record of Les Pawson from Pawtucket, RI.
Three time Boston winner Pawson said that at least the
record was still in Rhode Island. Tarzan was a member of
the 1939 Olympic team.
He ran and won two marathons in one weekend. He beat
noted runners Mel Porter and Pat Dengis in the first
race and Jack Semple and Durgin in the second race.
In 1935 he won two National Championships in 15 days.
August 24th he won the 25K National championship
in Massachusetts beating John Kelley, Les Pawson and
other national rated runners. On September 8th he won
the National 20K championship in Newport beating Pawson
and other top runners again.
Distance runners ran from 10 mile races to marathons. In
1939 Tarzan won 21 races defeating John Kelley 8 times
and Les Pawson 9 times. At one point he won 17 straight
races.
There were too many races over the years to list here.
The book Ellison Tarzan Brown by Michael Ward can be
read to know of his many achievements.
written by Buddy Grills (September
2011)