‘The Starter’
George V. Brown

George V. Brown was a Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) stalwart and the legendary starter of the Boston Marathon from 1905 to 1937. ‘The Starter’, a bronze sculpture now standing on Hopkinton Common at the Marathon starting line, recognizes and honors his role in the race and his influence on athletics both locally and internationally.

A lifetime resident of Hopkinton, Brown began his career in 1899 as an athletics instructor at Harvard. He began working for the B.A.A. in 1900, and managed the B.A.A. Games from 1905 to 1921. In addition to his role as the Boston Marathon starter, Brown managed the U.S. Olympic teams for Stockholm in 1912, Antwerp in 1920, Paris in 1925 and Amsterdam in 1928.

He played a pivotal role in the development of hockey in the U.S., served as the manager and director of the New Boston Arena (later known as Boston Garden), and directed athletics at Boston University from 1918 to 1925. For his contributions to the sport, he was inducted into both the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

A member of his family has started the race each year since his death in 1937, a tradition thatcontinues today.

Commissioned by the 26.2 Foundation through a state grant and sculpted by local artist

Michael Alfano, ‘The Starter’ was unveiled in 2008.