Brown Light - 2023
Each year we create, illustrate and write a custom holiday card to give thanks to all who support us past, present and future. We are very grateful for the opportunity to serve and hope you enjoy our festive and creative annual Holiday Lights.
As a life long Browns fan, in honor of his passing this year we illustrate the legendary #32. The 6’- 2”, 212 ground pounding, bone crushing, hurdling, twirling, darting, Superman of Cleveland. Watching in black & white or fuzzy color television his grid iron runs were poetry-in-motion in the cold mud and painted green grass of Lakefront, Municipal Stadium.
An All-American also excelling in basketball, track & field and lacrosse with the Syracuse Orange (’54-’56), drafted by the Cleveland Browns® in 1957 playing for 9 seasons. Called to an acting career (1964-2019) starring in films and television shows including The Dirty Dozen, The Running Man, He Got Game, Mars Attacks! and Any Given Sunday among many others, using his platform outspoken for social justice, economic empowerment and civil rights. A husband, father and grandfather his passion was to empower his fellow athletes to make a difference, especially in the communities in which they lived. His 1958 Topps® rookie card graded 9 sold for $336,000.00. Enjoy your season with Jim Brown!
- Syracuse Orangemen (New York) 1954 – 1956, retiring jersey #44
- Cleveland Browns® (Ohio) 1957 – 1965 retiring jersey #32
- NFL® Championship 1964 Browns 27-0 over the Baltimore Colts
- 9 time Pro Bowl – every season he played.
- 8 time First Team All Pro
- 3 time AP® NFL® MVP “Most Valuable Player”, Rookie of the Year 1957
- Led the league in rushing yards in 8 of his 9 seasons.
- Carried the ball 2,359 times for 12,312 rushing yards.
- 106 Touchdowns, all records when he retired.
- Averaged 104.3 rushing yards per game.
- Inducted Pro Football – Hall of Fame® in 1971 (Canton, Ohio)
- Inducted College Football – Hall of Fame® 1995 (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Inducted Lacrosse – Hall of Fame® 1984 (Sparks Glencoe, Maryland)
- NFL’s® 50th, 75th and 100th Anniversary – All-Time Teams
- The Sporting News® named as “the greatest professional football player ever.”
- 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship® honored as “ the greatest college football player of all time.”
“ Teammates are there for each other even after the noise of the crowd is gone.” Jim Brown
Tis Elfie Season!
Happy Holidays…Here we go Brownies, Here we go! Woof! Woof!
Willis & Debbie & Team!
Illustration: Willis Whiteside Author: Debbie Whiteside COPYRIGHT: WHITELIGHT DESIGN 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
10 GOAT Sports Art Prints will be available in 2024
willis@whitelightdesign.com