Deborah Ann Thompson Brown Obituary (1947 - 2019)

Deborah (Debbie)Thompson Brown, born July 5, 1947 to the late Ethel and Leroy Thompson, Sr. of Frederick, MD, ran her final race and crossed the finish line on Nov. 17, 2019. For 54 years, she was the loving wife of Charles Brown. Debbie began her track and field career at the age of 11 when her natural speed was brought to the attention of Coach Jack Griffin, and thus began her journey into the record books. Despite not having a girl's track program at Frederick High School (FHS), Debbie continued to excel, setting a world record in the 50-yard dash during her freshman year at FHS and continuing on to win numerous local and international medals at all levels of competition during her FHS career. In 1961, Debbie Thompson, Tammy Davis, Alfreda Bowie, and Marlene Snowden were named the National Junior Olympic Relay champions. They ran the 220-yard relay in 26 seconds and broke the old record, set in 1947 by two seconds. Debbie's training and dedication were ultimately rewarded when she made history, earning a spot on the 1964 U.S, Olympic Team in Tokyo, Japan. She became the first Maryland resident to accomplish this achievement. She competed in the 200-meter and finished fifth. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic 220-yard relay team that set a world's record. Jack Griffin, her coach, was appointed as the assistant coach for the 1964 Olympics Women's Track Team. Debbie was also the first black woman from Maryland to compete in the Olympics, which occurred a few months after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. In April 1965, the Frederick Track and Field Club set five Mexico City Stadium records in a weekend meet. Debbie was named the outstanding U.S. woman athlete. She sprinted to records in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and anchored the winning 400-meter relay team. Her time in the 100 was 11.5 seconds and in the 200, 24.2 seconds. Her teammate Tammy Davis ran the 80-meter hurdles in 10.9 seconds, a record high. The relay team of Tammy Davis, Phyllis Swann, Kay Johnson, and Debbie Thompson won the 400-meter event in 47.3 seconds, a stadium record. Winning five of the events plus picking up points in all but one event gave the Frederick team a total of 79 points and the women's championship. In July 1965, after graduating from FHS, Debbie set a record for the U.S. girls with a 10.7 second effort in the 100-yard dash held in Columbus, Ohio. She was inducted into the Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and, in 1990, was the first black woman from Frederick inducted into the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame. Debbie continued to be active in the track and field community. She coached the Frederick Striders Track Club, which she founded in 1989. Her coaching and mentorship were an inspiration to all of her athletes, leading her recognition as a five-time AAU Coach of the Year award winner. Debbie was also a member of the African American Resource and Cultural Heritage non-profit organization. She and her teammates were featured in a March 2011 newsletter denoting all of their accomplishments in track and field. The newsletter notes that the group traveled all over the U.S. and to different parts of the world to run in different meets. They vied for national titles in both the girls and woman's divisions. Debbie retired from both State Farm and Hood College. Left to cherish her memories are her: devoted husband, Charles Brown; two loving daughters, Lisa Brown Lucas (Chris) and Nicole Brown; two granddaughters, Tierra and Alexis; four great grandchildren, Kahleel, Ezra, Solomon, and Sa'Mone; brother, Leroy Thompson Jr.; godson, Lewis "Jay" Weedon; nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends. She will also be remembered by her dedicated friend/sister, Phyllis Weedon, and two loyal sisters-in-law, Theresa Brown and Jennifer Thompson. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Robert Thompson.