Roger Lee Brown a former American football defensive tackle who retired after the 1969 NFL season was our January 12th speaker.
Brown was drafted in the 4th round, 42nd overall, in the 1960 NFL Draft out of Maryland Eastern Shore by the Detroit Lions. Played in the College All-star game in Chicago vs the Baltimore Colts. Played with the original fearsome foursome, with Alex Karras, Sam Williams and Darris McCord, He was named the 1962 Outstanding Defensive Lineman in the league, and sacked both Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas for safeties. Tying an individual NFL record for safeties scored in a single season; first set in 1932. He played for the Lions through the 1966 season, then was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Was known for his performance in the “Thanksgiving Day Massacre” game against the Green Bay Packers in 1962 where he sacked Bart Starr 7 times, including one for a safety.
During his stint with the Rams, Brown, along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen formed the “Fearsome Foursome”, the most feared defensive line at the time. He retired after three seasons with the Rams, ending a career in which he was an NFL Pro Bowl player for 6 straight seasons (1962–1967) and a 2-time first-team All-Pro (1962 and 1963). Brown was the first NFL player to have a playing weight over 300 lb but his size and speed made him one of the most dynamic players of the time.
In 1997, Brown was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Restaurateur
After his playing career was over, Brown went into the restaurant business. He started a chain of 8 restaurants in the Chicago area, and later owned 3 McDonald’s locations in Virginia. Today he owns Roger Brown’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Portsmouth, Virginia and the Cove Tavern,s in Williamsburg, and Newport News VA is active in the Hampton Roads community, serving on 14 various local boards and committees. In 2009 he was inducted into the National Football Foundation And College Hall of Fame. And will be inducted into the Black College Football HALL of FAME on Feb 28th 2015.
Source: Wikipedia