Norwalk is home to a new bronze statue, Paul E. Brown, Football Trailblazer and Innovator, which depicts its hometown legendary football coach. The community raised more than $170,000 for the project.
Brown, who was born Sept. 7, 1908, at 7 W. Elm St. in Norwalk, was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, according to a news release from Mark Hazelwood, media coordinator for the Paul Brown Birthplace Committee.
The fundraising efforts began in 2022, and the statue as well as a new Ohio Historical Marker commemorating his birth in Norwalk, were unveiled Oct. 21 at Suhr Park, 29 W. Main St. across from the Norwalk Public Library.
The event, hosted by the committee, included Brown’s family members in addition to a large number of citizens.
“The statue is just amazing,” said Norwalk Mayor Dave Light. “I’m just astounded at what a good likeness it is of Paul Brown.
“It’s remarkable, and the whole thing will be a great addition to uptown Norwalk.”
Fundraising by the committee kicked off in September 2022, with a campaign that included corporate sponsorships along with engraved paving bricks and granite blocks.
“I’m pleasantly surprised by how quickly it all happened,” Light said. “I really didn’t think it would go this fast, and a big thank-you to everyone who participated.
“It’s just great.”
Approximately 200 individual donations were collected toward the $100,000 goal to commission the statue and pay for other elements, including the granite wall that lists information about Brown’s career in football, the release noted.
“That, too, is a good-looking addition to the streetscape,” said Kathy Root, chair of the Paul Brown Birthplace Committee. “It provides context and information about Paul Brown that is perhaps not so widely known by everyone.”
Sponsors who donated $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 have their business or name engraved on the front of the stadium wall.
Three of the 23 benefactors wished to remain anonymous for their combined total of $105,000.
Dozens of donors bought a brick paver or a granite square, the release noted.
“We’re so grateful to every single donor for their generosity,” Root said.
The life-size likeness of Brown stands nearly 7 feet tall.
The design was approved by Mike Brown, owner and general manager of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mike Brown is the only surviving son of Paul Eugene and Ida Belle Brown, who lived on West Elm Street.
The likeness of Brown is based on an artist’s rendering created by Norwalk business owners Kevin Hipp of Franklin Monument and Trevor Rood of Foghorn Designs, the release stated.
The granite wall behind the statue lists the coach’s notable accomplishments and innovations to the game of football.
The back side of the wall is etched to look like the façade of a football stadium.
“I think people will really enjoy having this here,” Light said. “I hope that visitors to Norwalk take advantage of the opportunity to see the statue, read about Paul Brown and his impact on pro football, and learn something.
“We want people to come here and see this.”
First coach of the namesake Cleveland NFL team, and a co-founder and first coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Brown began his Ohio coaching career at Massillon High School before moving on to Ohio State University.
Brown led the Buckeyes to the first of their eight national championships in 1942.
With the Cleveland Browns, Brown was the team’s general manager, head coach and part owner from 1946 until 1962.
During that time, the Browns won four All-America Football Conference championships and three National Football League championships, the release stated.
With the Bengals, he retired from coaching in 1975, but remained as president of that organization until his death in 1991.
The Bengals reached two Super Bowls during his time with the team.
Brown’s all-time coaching record in the NFL stands at 167-53-8 over 17 seasons, with eight league championships.
