Paul Brown, Mark Graham remembered at Hamilton high school’s new track, field
By Gord Bowes, Hamilton Mountain News
Desiree Brown (left), Gladstone Brown, Cheryl Miller, Ben Brown, Albert Graham, Terry Whitehead and Linda Graham walk a lap on the Mark Graham Track while members of the Sir Allan MacNab Lions football team practise on Paul Brown Field after a dedication ceremony at the west Mountain high school on Sept. 20. Mountain News Photo.
The memory of two prominent figures in Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School’s history are being preserved at the school’s new athletic track and sports field.
Mark Graham Track and Paul Brown Field were dedicated in a ceremony at the west Mountain school on Sept. 20.
Mark Anthony Graham was fast. He was a four-time OFSAA 400m champion. He also won the 200m gold in 1991, beating future Olympic gold medalist Robert Esmie.
After winning his final provincial high school 400m title in 1992, he was selected to run on Canada’s 4x400m team at the Barcelona Olympics. His performance on the track earned him a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska.
Graham joined the Canadian armed forces in 2004. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in Sept. 4, 2006 at age 33.
The timing of the dedication, so close to the 10th anniversary of Graham’s death, was significant, said his mother, Linda.
“It feels not like closure, but wrapping up a chapter,” she said.
MacNab’s new track is a four-lane circuit with a six-lane sprint stretch.
Back in Graham’s day, it was a cement track with plenty of weeds growing through the cracks.
“I think if he was here today he would have run around the track a couple of times and pushed the young kids to take advantage of it,” said his father, Albert.
“He might be mad that he didn’t get to train on it,” joked Linda, “but he’d be very happy that the facilities are there for the next generation.”
Paul Brown was a gentle giant. Along with being a popular teacher, he was a football coach and role model.
Before his death at age 49 on Dec. 17, 2012, Brown coached the Lions to the city finals. On his team was his son Ben.
At the dedication ceremony, Ben told the audience his father lived his life according to three main rules: integrity, accountability and responsibility.
“He expected these of himself as well as every single person he came in contact with,” said Ben at the dedication ceremony.
Brown taught at Westmount, Barton, Churchill, Scott Park and Delta before spending his last four years at MacNab.
Brown and his wife, Alexandra, both attended Westview middle school before parting ways as high school began — he to Westmount and she to MacNab. The couple, who were married for 20 years, always kidded each other about which was the best school.
She said her husband was a humble man who would have had to be dragged to an event being held in his honour.
“He would have been proud of this,” she said. “I think he’s kind of smiling and doing an, ‘Aw shucks,’ right now.”
Gord Bowes is the Editor of Mountain News. He can be reached at [email protected]
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- Albert and Linda Graham unveil the plaque honouring their son, Mark. Mountain News Photo.
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- Ben Brown looks at his family after unveiling the plaque honouring his father, Paul, during a dedication ceremony at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School. Mountain News Photo.
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- Paul Brown
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- Mark Graham
Updated on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.