Williamsport recognizes Gary Brown, one of its greatest football players

WILLIAMSPORT—The city of Williamsport has ensured the name of one of its greatest football players will never be forgotten.

Several blocks of Lycoming Street Saturday were designated Gary Brown Jr. Way.

“In a small way his memory will live on forever,” his widow Kim said during the brief ceremony at Lycoming and Locust streets that was filled by family members and friends.

When her husband lost his battle with cancer in April 2022 at age 52 she said she wondered if people might forget him.

“I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten,” said Mayor Derek Slaughter, who was Brown’s cousin. He was so impactful in the community, he added.

Gary Brown III, who goes by Tre, climbed a ladder and removed the cover from the Gary Brown Jr. Way sign that honors his father.

Within eyesight is the Lycoming Street house where Brown spent most of his childhood and Penn State coach Joe Paterno visited him.

“He was astonishing on the field,” Slaughter said of Brown who after completing his collegiate career at Penn State went on to play and coach in the NFL. He also coached collegiately.

“He was very proud of this little town in central Pennsylvania,” his widow said. It was the only place he considered home, daughter Malena Brown added.

Every place he went he always talked about Williamsport, Kim Brown said. He planned to return after his coaching days were over, she said.

Her father would have been honored at what the city did but also humbled, daughter Dorianna Brown said.

Tre, who graduated from Williamsport high Thursday evening, extended his appreciation to the city, also.

Slaughter gave the family a replica of the Gary Brown Jr. Way sign and a framed copy of the ordinance City Council adopted in May so designating those several blocks.

“He would not have expected us to do anything like this,” said Brown’s brother Kevin who at one point had to pause to regain his composure.

Brown graduated from Williamsport as its all-time rushing leader, piling up more than 4,00 years and scoring 74 touchdowns.

He led Penn State in rushing in 1988 and was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1991. He had two 1,000-yard seasons in his eight years in the NFL playing for the Oilers, San Diego Chargers and New York Giants.

He became Cleveland Browns running backs coach in 2009 and after four years there was hired by the Dallas Cowboys where he remained until 2020.

His collegiate coaching career included stops at Lycoming College, Susquehanna University and Rutgers. He had completed his first year at Wisconsin prior to his death.

This was the second time Brown was memorialized publicly. Former teammates and coaches were among the 500 present at a memorial service two years ago at the Williamsport football stadium.