Highlighting Exceptional Athleticism of Ellison ``tarzan'' Brown

Floor Speech

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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, this week, nearly 30,000 runners from 118 countries and all 50 States came together to run the 128th Boston Marathon. That makes this a fitting week to recognize the legacy of Ellison ``Tarzan'' Brown, a Rhode Islander and member of the Narragansett Tribe.

Born in 1913, Brown's exceptional athleticism earned him the name ``Tarzan'' after the popular films of the time. He was also known as ``Deerfoot'' to his Tribe.

Despite facing adversity throughout his life, and with no formal training or proper footwear, he emerged as one of the world's greatest athletes. He was a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon in 1936 and 1939 and represented the United States at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Brown is one of two indigenous North Americans to have won the Boston Marathon and the only indigenous person to have more than one victory.

Today, I will take this moment to honor Tarzan Brown, a legend who brought honor to Rhode Island and the Narragansett people, and to echo the words of his nephew, Chief Sachem Sun Rise: ``A lot of people leave a footprint. He left a trail.''

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