Willard Sheldon Reaves was born on August 17,1959 and is an American-Canadian former professional gridiron football running back and politician.
21 Facts About Willard Reaves
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Willard Reaves previously served as the deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.
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Willard Reaves was twice a Manitoba Liberal Party candidate for the division of Fort Whyte in 2022 and 2023.
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Willard Reaves played college football at Northern Arizona University from 1977 to 1980.
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Willard Reaves rushed for 2,139 yards at university, the best being 1979 when he rushed for 1,084 yards and was voted First-team All Big Sky Conference First-team All American.
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In 1992, Willard Reaves was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he became a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Willard Reaves played five seasons for the Blue Bombers from 1983 to 1987.
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Willard Reaves rushed for 898 yards in his first year and was runner up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award and an all star.
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Willard Reaves set a CFL record with 2,140 yards from scrimmage.
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Willard Reaves helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup, their first victory since 1962.
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Willard Reaves rushed for 1,000 yards two other times, he led the league in both seasons.
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Willard Reaves finished his career with 5,923 total rushing yards for the Blue Bombers.
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Willard Reaves led the CFL in rushing 3 times in his career.
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In 1988, he got into a contract dispute with the Bombers, who wanted Willard Reaves to take a massive paycut.
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Willard Reaves was released and tried out with the NFL and in 1989 he played two games with the Miami Dolphins and one game with the Washington Redskins.
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In October 2021, Willard Reaves was announced as the Manitoba Liberal Party's candidate in the 2022 Fort Whyte by-election to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
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Willard Reaves ultimately lost to Progressive Conservative candidate and fellow former Blue Bomber, Obby Khan.
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Willard Reaves was defeated by Khan in a rematch in the 2023 Manitoba general election.
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On November 28,2023, Willard Reaves was named deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.
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Willard Reaves stepped down from that position a few months later on June 26,2024.
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Willard Reaves is the great-great-grandson of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was the first black lawman west of the Mississippi River and among the first black US deputy marshalls; Reeves' life is the focus of the 2023 TV series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.