Birthdate: July 20, 1919
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
High School: Cleveland Rhodes High School (1940)
College: Baldwin Wallace College
Died: March 29, 2017
Year Inducted: Charter Class of 2006
Bobby Brown was the first basketball official to be inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. His approach to life has been: “In order to succeed, we must first believe we can”. He married his high school sweetheart and they were married for over 60 years. Bobby lived in Parma Heights, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland Rhodes High School in 1940 and attended Baldwin Wallace College. He later served in the Army Air Corps for three years and was discharged with the rank of Captain. As a basketball and football official he held many honorable positions. In 1959-60 he was president of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. He officiated State Championship Games in 1960, 1966 and 1971. He was a member of the Parma Board of Education from 1960 to 1967 and served as president in 1964 and 1966.
In 1972, he was selected for the Hall of Fame of the International Basketball Officials. Bobby was also elected to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame. In 1994 he was named an Honorary Member of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association. He officiated basketball for 32 years at the high school and collegiate level including District, Regional and State tournaments.
Bobby was awarded the Golden Deeds Award by the greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association and was a member of the Cleveland Touchdown Club Board of Directors. In 1990 he was selected as a Charter Member of the Parma City Sports Hall of Fame. He continues to assist young basketball and football officials, observing them and making recommendations to high schools and colleges.
Watch Bobby’s Enshrinement Speech:
