Brown selected to Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

Published 12:12 am Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NATCHEZ — For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame will have a Natchez native inducted.

Former Ole Miss All-American and two-time Super Bowl champion Allen Brown will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2010.

Brown said he received a call recently from the Hall of Fame telling him he would be inducted in a ceremony next July 30.

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“It’s the best honor you can get, because all your peers and other people in other sections of sports chose you,” Brown said. “It’s a real big honor. I’ve played in a lot of big games, but this is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Brown played end for the Rebels from 1961-64 and was named an All-American by the Associated Press after his senior season.

Since Brown was named AP All-American in 1964, only five other Ole Miss players have received the honor; tight end Wesley Walls in 1988, offensive tackle Everett Lindsay in 1992, tight end Rufus French in 1998, linebacker Patrick Willis in 2006 and offensive tackle Michael Oher in 2008.

Brown went on to play for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls before injuries ended his career in 1968.

Brown said the fact that people still remember him playing over 40 years after he retired is the most special part of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“People in their 30s don’t know who the heck I am,” Brown said. “People my age know who I am. That makes it real special that they thought enough of me to induct me into the Hall of Fame.”

Brown said he was surprised when he got the call as well as humbled.

“I’m not saying I belonged there, but I’m glad I got there,” Brown said. “I’ve always wanted to be in the Hall of Fame, anybody that plays who is from Mississippi wants to be in it.”

And now that Brown will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, he knows he will have a permanent place in Mississippi sports history, which he is very proud of.

“It will be there 100 years from now,” Brown said. “People will look up and say ‘Who’s Allen Brown?’ It’s something to be real proud of and I am.”