Bill Willis dies, mourning in The Hall Of Fame

The world of football at all levels is lamenting the death of one of the key stones of modern NFL.

Bill Willis died on Tuesday, November the 27th of complications following a stroke suffered on Thanksgiving. He was one of the first African-American players to play professional football, in fact, he was part of the 1946 newly formed Cleveland Browns; Before this, no black player had appeared in a pro football game since the National Football League of the early 1930’s.

Playing mostly on defense, he was selected as a first-team all-league player three times in the All-America Football Conference and four times in the NFL., which the Browns joined in 1950.

In an era where racial matters were a constant, Willis and fellow Browns teammates Marion Motley, Kenny Washington, and Woody Strode, were like the Dr.King’s of football, preaching with their talent, they set an example for others to follow, and mostly, they gave African-American kids some hope.

His major achievements:

1971: Inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame

1977: Inducted as a charter member of the Ohio State Varsity and O Hall of Fame and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

"My father had a wonderful life, did a lot of great things and helped a lot of people," Clem Willis (his son)said.

Romeo Crennel, who was hired as Cleveland’s first black head coach not long ago, also remembered him: ''Bill was a pioneer,. ''He blazed a trail for guys like myself.'' he said.