Up to the time of his death, Richard Colson was one of the most notable figures in our town.

notable ^{adj.显要的、著名的(famous)}

• ... 'the most valiant soldier and most notable leader, Signor Giovanni Haukodue’.

figure ^{n.数字、体型、（远处的）人影、（重要的）人物}

• One of the most colorful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764.
• They also found something which the X-ray plates did not show: a small wax figure of the god Duamutef.
• The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by Eiffel.
• In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.
• A farm worker, who stayed up all night, claimed to have seen a figure cutting corn in the moonlight.

He was a shrewd and wealthy businessman, but most people in the town hardly knew anything about this side of his life.

this side of his life ^{（his shrewdness and wealthiness）}

• Harry is very thrifty, but in the presence of his friends he never shows this side of his life (= his thriftiness).

He was known to us all as Dickie and his eccentricity had become legendary long before he died.

be known (to sb.) as sth. ^被称为是

• The disease is commonly known as Mad Cow Disease.
• He soon made a name for himself and came to be known to the Italians as Giovanni Acuto.

造句：Earvin Johnson is known to the Americans as 'Magic Johnson'. ^{美国人把 Earvin Johnson 称为魔术师约翰逊。}
造句：Li Bai is known to the Chinese as 'poet-immortal'.^{中国人把李白称为诗仙}

legendary ^{adj.非常有名的（famous / well-known）、传奇的}

• Robin Hood is a legendary hero. ^{传奇的英雄}
• the legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg ^著名的
• The Chinese are legendary for their hospitality. ^著称

Long before ^很久

Wu Song's strength and courage had become legendary long before he joined the Liangshan rebels. ^{在上梁山前很久，武松的力量和勇敢就已经很有名了。}