Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H8539 2026 -- H 8539 ======== LC006370 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N CONGRATULATING THAWN SHERENTÉ HARRIS ON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE 2026 BOSTON MARATHON AND HONORING THE LEGACY OF HIS GREAT- UNCLE, ELLISON TARZAN BROWN Introduced By: Representatives Spears, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Donovan, Speakman, Boylan, Carson, Cotter, and McEntee Date Introduced: May 12, 2026 Referred To: House read and passed 1 WHEREAS, Thawn Sherenté Harris of Charlestown, a proud member of the Narragansett 2 Indian Tribe, successfully completed the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most historic and 3 challenging long-distance races; and 4 WHEREAS, Thawn completed the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon course with an impressive 5 official finish time of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, finishing in under four hours, and is 6 only the third member of the Narragansett Tribe to complete the race while achieving the second- 7 fastest recorded time among them; and 8 WHEREAS, This achievement was undertaken as both a personal milestone and a 9 ceremonial journey to honor his great-uncle, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, and to commemorate the 10 90th anniversary of Tarzan Brown’s first Boston Marathon victory; and 11 WHEREAS, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown rose to national prominence in the 1930s, winning 12 the Boston Marathon in 1936 and again in 1939, and competing in the 1936 Olympic Games, 13 while bringing recognition and pride to the Narragansett people; and 14 WHEREAS, Tarzan Brown’s 1936 victory included his legendary passing of race 15 favorite Johnny Kelley on the hills of Newton, an iconic moment that gave rise to what is now 16 known as “Heartbreak Hill”; and 17 WHEREAS, In completing the Boston Marathon, Thawn symbolically followed in his 18 great-uncle’s footsteps along that same historic stretch, retracing the site of one of Brown s most 19 celebrated achievements; and 1 WHEREAS, Thawn is among the first direct relatives of Tarzan Brown in generations to 2 run the Boston Marathon, further underscoring the significance of his accomplishment and its 3 connection to Rhode Island history, marking the first time in ninety years that a direct descendant 4 has undertaken this historic race; and 5 WHEREAS, A tribal storyteller, educator, and cultural leader within the Narragansett 6 community, Thawn Sherenté Harris approached the marathon as a ceremonial act reflecting a 7 deep commitment to heritage, perseverance, and representation, running “for the people” while 8 carrying the Narragansett flag over the finish line; and 9 WHEREAS, In a powerful tribute to his great-uncle, Thawn also crossed the finish line 10 barefoot, carrying his sneakers, in remembrance of Tarzan Brown’s first Boston Marathon in 11 1935 when he ran the final miles without shoes; and 12 WHEREAS, Despite recovering from an ACL injury and training for only three and a 13 half months, while also overcoming double lateral meniscus tears, Thawn demonstrated 14 extraordinary perseverance in preparing for and completing the marathon; and 15 WHEREAS, His preparation included training through the historic Blizzard of 2026, 16 which set a new record as the largest snowfall in Rhode Island history, and repeatedly running the 17 hills of Newton, including a final 21-mile training run during which he ascended Heartbreak Hill 18 three times in prayer and ceremony; and 19 WHEREAS, Thawn’s journey was supported by his family and friends, including his 20 wife, Eleanor Dove Harris, and their seven children, as well as by the Narragansett Indian Tribe, 21 the Town of Charlestown, the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, the Wakefield 22 Running Club, and many supporters from across Rhode Island; and 23 WHEREAS, His accomplishment serves as a significant tribute to his great-uncle’s 24 enduring legacy and as an inspiration to future generations to pursue excellence while honoring 25 their cultural identity and history, and stands as a testament to perseverance, heritage, and 26 Indigenous visibility; now, therefore be it 27 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 28 congratulates Thawn Sherenté Harris on successfully completing the Boston Marathon and 29 honors him for proudly continuing the legacy of his great-uncle, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown; and be 30 it further 31 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 32 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Thawn Sherenté Harris. ======== LC006370 ======== LC006370 - Page 2 of 2
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.