Friday’s memorial for Long Beach Poly football, basketball, and baseball legend Willie Brown began, fittingly, with a round of applause. The memorial took place in the Poly auditorium and, as the pastor pointed out, Brown was accustomed to hearing cheers as he crossed the line into the end zone or rounded third and headed towards […]
Tag: obituary
COLUMN: Willie Brown One Of Long Beach’s Best Ever
When I heard that Long Beach legend Willie Brown had passed away a few weeks ago, I was on a family vacation in Mammoth. Willie was one of Long Beach’s true legends, and I was sad to hear that he’d left us; I spent most of the rest of the day thinking about him and […]
OBITUARY: Willie Brown Had Special Career, Impact In Long Beach
Long Beach Poly fans lost a special member of their community last week, and the city lost one of its greatest ever athletes. Poly alum and 1959 CIF Football Player of the Year Willie Brown passed away due to complications from cancer at the age of 76. Brown is survived by his wife, Carole, son, […]
Obituary: Long Beach Poly’s Willie Brown Passes Away
Long Beach Poly alum and 1959 CIF Football Player of the Year Willie Brown passed away today due to complications from cancer. He was 76. Services are pending. Brown is survived by his wife, Carole, son, Brian, daughter, Kimberly and grandchildren Nathan and Alana, and his brother, Oscar. Brown shared the Poly backfield with Dee […]
Obituary: Ken Ravizza Left His Mark On Long Beach Baseball
Even though he never actually played or managed in a baseball game, Dr. Ken Ravizza was one of the most influential people in the sport as a mental skills guru. He also mentored Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon, and spent a lot of time working with the Long Beach State Dirtbags as well as other […]
Wilson Bids Goodbye To Bob Ballack, Bob Bailey
Sunday was a somber day to be a Bruin, as the Wilson athletic community said goodbye to a pair of local legends during simultaneous memorials across town from each other for Bob Ballack and Bob Bailey. Bailey was a legendary baseball star at Wilson who passed away in early January at the age of 75. […]