The man we’ve all grown to love and admire, NFL Hall of Famer and Legend Jim Brown passed away peacefully May 18th, with his wife by his side. His wife Monique to the Brown’s instagram and shared the news to the world with a post that expressed how good of a father, husband, and all-around statesman Jim Brown was.
Although Jim Brown was known for his amazing feats as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns, most people will remember him by how gentle his soul was. Regarded as one of the best to ever play the position, Jim Brown was largely respected and held in the highest regards as an activist of civil rights. As early as the 1950’s, Brown was one of the first athletes to speak out on racism. Brown worked relentlessly to promote economic development for African Americans. Jim Brown founded the Negro Industrial and Economic Union to provide jobs for black people.
In 1967, when heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title for his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War and faced imprisonment, Jim Brown was the one who called a meeting of Black athletes to rally behind him. Athletes such as Lew Alcindor and Bill Russell, answered the call and attended the Ali Summit.
By 1980, Jim Brown founded the Amer-I-Can Foundation, which taught life skills to prisoners and gang members in California.
Jim Brown played professional football from 1957 to 1965, and was part of the Brown’s championship team of 1964.. At Syracuse University, Brown earned All-American honors, and in 1995 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1971, and the College Football of Fame in 1995.
As an actor, Brown appeared in many feature films. Brown made an appearance in the 1964 Western, “Rio Conchos”, “The Dirty Dozen”, “Ice Station Zebra”, “100 Rifles”, and over 50+ credits in his career. The work and legacy the great Jim Brown left will be forever missed! We Love You Jim Brown and send our condolences to the Family~ Renzo