George V. Brown

George Vincent Brown (21 October 1880 – 17 October 1937) of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, championed the development of various sports and sporting events in the United States, most notably the Boston Marathon and amateur ice hockey. From 1904 to 1936, Brown served the United States Olympic Team as a manager, official, and coach. In 1919, he became general manager of the Boston Arena, home to indoor track meets, boxing matches, and hockey games, among other events.

He was born on October 21, 1880. He was the assistant manager at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He died on October 17, 1937.

In 1899 Brown was hired as an assistant to the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Athletic Director. For 33 years, from 1905 to 1937, Brown served as starter of the BAA’s Boston Marathon, the oldest annually run marathon. For eleven of those years, he also managed the race.

From 1905 to 1921, Brown managed the BAA track and field games, and for over twenty years, served as the BAA Director of Athletics. In 1910 Brown started and managed an ice hockey team, and formed a football team for the BAA.

Brown also served on the BAA Governing Committee for 20 years, having transitioned from club employee to club member and leader.

During Brown’s youth, ice hockey was in its infancy in the United States. In 1910 Brown formed and managed an amateur ice hockey team for the BAA, which played at the newly constructed Boston Arena.

Over the next two decades, Brown organized hockey events held at the Arena, including Canadian-American games and collegiate competitions. When the Arena burnt down in 1918, Brown persuaded its owner, Henry G. Lapham, to rebuild. Brown was then named general manager and promoted hockey as its major draw. In 1934 Lapham purchased the rival Garden, and named Brown as its general manager and vice president. When professional hockey was first introduced and its teams sought to play at Boston’s rinks, Brown opposed, favoring amateur competition. He later accepted the professionals and promoted the Boston Bruins playing at the Boston Garden.

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