DB Tommy James (official thread)

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns mourn Tommy James

Former Massillon, OSU star dead at 83

By Marla Ridenour and Connie Bloom

Beacon Journal staff writers

The Browns are lamenting the death of one of their founding players.
Former defensive back Tommy James died of an apparent heart attack in a nursing home in his native Massillon on Wednesday night, the team reported.
He was 83.
James is fondly remembered for scoring the first touchdown in the dedication game at Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in 1939.
``He was one of my first heroes,'' said Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals president and son of Paul Brown.

Cont'd...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Former Browns DB James dies



Friday, February 09, 2007
From wire reports
Massillon- Tommy James, a defensive back who played for Paul Brown in high school, college and two professional leagues, has died. He was 83.
James' family informed the team that he died Wednesday night, Cleveland Browns spokeswoman Amy Palcic said Thursday. His son, Mike James, said he believed the cause of death was congestive heart failure.
"He was a fighter," Mike James said. "He fought right to the end."

Cont'd...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Massillon great Tommy James died
Friday, February 9, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk Repository sports writer

Roughly two years after James was elected to the Cleveland Browns' Legends Club, he died Wednesday night at Affinity Medical Center.​

MASSILLON Tommy James, arguably as great as any Massillon football figure not named Paul Brown, experienced more in his 83 years than most.
Still, no one was ready to let him go.
Roughly two years after James was elected to the Cleveland Browns' Legends Club, he died Wednesday night at Affinity Medical Center.
His son, Mike James, one of the family members gathered around the bed, had been encouraged by his father's recovery from a 2006 stroke. Tommy seemed to be coming back from a mild heart attack suffered during the weekend. Just when vital signs seemed to be improving, his heart stopped beating.
Having imagined there was time left with his dad, Mike James found himself reminiscing Thursday in memoriam.

Cont'd...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

The golden boy of the Tigers golden era
Friday, February 9, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

MASSILLON Everybody thought Tommy James was a nice guy.
He didn't get to be one of the best football players in Stark County history by being a nice guy all the time.
"He had a quick fuse," said Tommy's brother, Don. "The story around Massillon was, when the fuse went off, you stayed away from him."
Tommy James, the former Massillon Tiger and Cleveland Brown, was 83 when he died Wednesday in Massillon.
He was quick at everything when he played for the Tigers. It was one of the most glorious eras in national high school football history, with James scoring the first touchdown in Tiger Stadium.

Cont'd...

 

[BB73]

James was on the National Championship team in 1942. After 3 years of military service, he returned to play on the 1946 tOSU team. He was elected to be a captain for the 1947 squad, but decided to go to the NFL that year and was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

indeonline