Message from the president
Greetings to all Greater Columbus Basketball Legends Association(GCBLA) and Hall of Fame(HOF) Alumni.
It is my honor and privilege to reach out to you as the new President of the GCBLA. For some of you I realize it’s been a while but believe me, we have not forgotten you. My name is Garry (Ajamu) Brown, Sr. I’m a lifetime resident of Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Linmoor JH; The OSU University HS; attended Central State University, Ohio; and received my BA/MA from The Ohio State University. Sports is one of the major foundations of my life’s development and I’m grateful and proud to have accomplished major successes. I’m also a proud Military Veteran. I served in the US Army (Vietnam Vet) and the US Air Force Reserves. I’m honored to be a part of such a prestigious organization, and it’s our intention to continue to raise the level of integrity that it deserves.
I joined GCBLA in 2020 under the leadership of GCBLA’s founding members, Ed “Skip” Young and Dr. John Howard. And for you who may not be aware our dear brother Skip passed in March, 2023. It has been challenging but we are determined to keep this vision alive and moving forward. We have every intention to make you, and our community, proud. We believe you are a very important part of who we are and its imperative that we continue this journey together.
As we move forward, we expect to be challenged with needing resources to continue our work. We’re making an effort to help support community organizations, especially those serving our youth. Many look up to us, especially when it comes to basketball related activities. Then it is our intent to have our Annual HOF Enshrinement Ceremony, like we had for you, your families, and your associates. Celebrating you for your hard work is a blessing to us all. And it makes our community proud. However, to be able to continue to provide the services we need financing and support. We are doing fundraisers and applying for various grants, however, as you may know, funds are not as readily available as they once were. We’re doing like most organizations and institutions, we’re asking OUR GCBLA ALUMNI and associates for support. We are a NON-PROFIT organization and no one is receiving a salary to do the work. We have a proud passionate group of volunteers willing to be a blessing to others because we realize that we have been blessed ourselves. So, we’re giving back and asking for you to join us.
Thank you in advance for your continual services and remember our motto:
“Where Legends Are Remembered!”
If you have any questions, please contact us at: legendscbla@gmail.com
Please send all donations to:
GCBLA
PO BOX 11
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
Our mission has been to acknowledge, promote archive, and disseminate the illustrious history and impact that basketball as a sport has had on Metro-Columbus and surrounding counties, which has produced some of the most accomplished women and men in the field of sport, business, and social activism.
G. Ajamu Brown, President