Dedication Ceremony For Ellison “Tarzan” Brown Memorial Statue

When: Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 am
Where: Rooney Park, 14 Railroad Ave, Westerly, RI

The monument honors the legendary Narragansett marathoner and two-time Boston Marathon champion, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown. The statue was commissioned by the Ellison “Tarzan” Brown Memorial Fund and is destined for the Tomaquag Museum on the University of Rhode Island campus.

The June 13 dedication ceremony will include an opening ceremony and a welcome and introduction by Chief Sachem Byron “Sun Rise” Brown of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot Tribe, Niantic-Narragansett Tribe. Byron is the oldest living nephew of Tarzan Brown and Byron’s mother Myra Brown was Tarzan’s oldest sister.

Other planned activities will include:

1.) Opening Prayer
2.) Honor Song
3.) Smoking of the Peace Pipe
4.) Blessing of the Statue
5.) Welcoming of Distinguished guests
6.) Introduction of the Steering Committee
7.) Acknowledgement of Sculptor Serena Bates
8.) Description of  additional planed improvements to the site including Granite Bench, Pavers and Plantings
9.) Comments and thoughts from former Running Greats

Tarzan Brown’s Marathon Chronology

• 1934 Boston Marathon, placed 32nd
• 1935 Boston Marathon, placed 13th
• 1936 Boston Marathon, Winner
• 1936 Olympics
• 1937 Boston Marathon, placed 31st
• 1938 Boston Marathon, placed 51st
• 1939 Boston Marathon, Winner
• 1940 Boston Marathon, placed 13th
• 1943 Boston Marathon, placed 21st
• 1946 Boston Marathon, placed 12th

There’s more information about the history of this statue at https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a70978308/tarzan-brown-new-statue-in-westerly/