Although Brownie Wrona operated an
elaborate gymnastics center on Elmbrook Road near Beaver Falls later
in life, his
own beginnings in the sport were primitive. Born in New Castle in
1921, he came to Beaver Falls as a junior high student in 1934. His
oldest brother, Leon, set up horizontal bars in the back yards of
their homes in New Castle and Beaver Falls. When Leon took lessons
at the Monaca Turners, Brownie followed his actions on the home
apparatus that used stepladders for horizontal bars. "We just
tumbled on the grass or concrete," Brownie recalled. "After 1938 we
spent time at the Beaver Falls, Monaca, and Ambridge Turners for as
long as they would let us stay. My first medal was in fourth place
at Charleroi in 1940. In 1941 I placed third in the Nationals at
Springfield, Massachusetts." Brownie served with the Marines in World
War II and was wounded in the Marshall Islands and was hit by a mortar
on Iwo Jima, where he saw the first American flag go up on Mt Suribachi. After the war,
Brownie had a long and successful career as
gymnastics coach of the Beaver Falls Turners and also coached the
Rochester Turners when
Bud Marquette suffered a back injury. As
physical director of the Beaver Valley YMCA, Brownie began the first
jogging and coordination programs in the area and also served as the
first Easter women's gymnastics director for the Gymnastic Safety
Association. Along with Paul Uran and Gene
Wettstone, Brownie was instrumental in beginning the WPIAL and PIAA high school gymnastics
programs. His gymnastics complex, built in 1972, served over 400
boys and girls.
Although Brownie Wrona operated an
elaborate gymnastics center on Elmbrook Road near Beaver Falls later
in life, his
own beginnings in the sport were primitive. Born in New Castle in
1921, he came to Beaver Falls as a junior high student in 1934. His
oldest brother, Leon, set up horizontal bars in the back yards of
their homes in New Castle and Beaver Falls. When Leon took lessons
at the Monaca Turners, Brownie followed his actions on the home
apparatus that used stepladders for horizontal bars. "We just
tumbled on the grass or concrete," Brownie recalled. "After 1938 we
spent time at the Beaver Falls, Monaca, and Ambridge Turners for as
long as they would let us stay. My first medal was in fourth place
at Charleroi in 1940. In 1941 I placed third in the Nationals at
Springfield, Massachusetts." Brownie served with the Marines in World
War II and was wounded in the Marshall Islands and was hit by a mortar
on Iwo Jima, where he saw the first American flag go up on Mt Suribachi. After the war,
Brownie had a long and successful career as
gymnastics coach of the Beaver Falls Turners and also coached the
Rochester Turners when