TBT football to honor Brooks, Brown

Posted Sep 16, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Sep 16, 2010 at 02:00 PM

In a tribute to each man, Tampa Bay Tech players will be wearing black armbands during tonight’s home game with Armwood in memory of Bobbie Brooks, the father of the school’s principal, Warren “Scott” Brooks, and Abe Brown, the local iconic coach and educator.

Titans coach C.C. Culpepper said Brooks was a ardent supporter of Tech football and was always there at key moments in the program’s rise since Culpepper arrived at the school four years ago.

“He (Brooks) was out here supporting us as late as (last week’s) Riverview game,” Culpepper said. “Him, his wife and his grandkids came to the game. He shook my hand, gave me a hug, I didn’t know it was for the last time.”

Brooks, who lived in Plant City, passed away Sunday. He was 68. His wake is being held during Tech’s game. Brooks’ funeral will take place Friday.

Brown, 83, a longtime educator, coach, mentor, pastor, civic leader and activist, died Saturday at St. Joseph’s Hospital following a third bout with cancer. Among his legacies is Abe Brown Ministries, the prison outreach Brown founded in 1976. His viewing will be staged Friday and his funeral is Saturday at the Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, where thousands are expected to attend.

Some of the speakers slated for Brown’s funeral are former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, Mayor Pam Iorio, former Miami Dolphins standout Lloyd Mumphord, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and Monsignor Laurence Higgins.