1. Willis Franklin Ward was an American track and field athlete, college football player, lawyer, and judge who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1981.
42 Facts About Willis Ward
1. 2.
In football, Willis Ward was only the second African-American to win a varsity letter for the Michigan Wolverines football team, lettering in 1932,1933, and 1934.
3.
In 1934, a controversy developed when Georgia Tech refused to play if Willis Ward took the field, and university officials opted to keep Willis Ward out of the game.
4.
Willis Ward later became a lawyer in Detroit and up through World War 2 he worked for Ford Motor Company in the Service Division as a voice for black workers, but helping Ford oppose labor unions; later he was a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission from 1966 to 1973, serving as chairman from 1969 to 1973.
5.
Willis Ward served as a probate court judge in Wayne County, Michigan.
6.
Willis Ward's father, Henry R Ward, was an Alabama native who moved to Detroit and worked there in a Ford Motor Company factory.
7.
Willis Ward attended Detroit's Northwestern High School where he excelled in both track and football.
8.
Willis Ward was city champion in the low hurdles and the high hurdles.
9.
Willis Ward attended the University of Michigan from 1931 to 1935, where he became one of the most successful track athletes in the school's history.
10.
Willis Ward can run the high hurdles and the low hurdles.
11.
Willis Ward has broad jumped 22 feet without training in that event.
12.
Willis Ward put the 16-pound shot over 43 feet without prior experience, and it believed he might be developed into a world champion weight man.
13.
Willis Ward has an ideal build for a track man, six feet, one inch tall, 185 pounds of well-distributed weight, good legs, natural co-ordination.
14.
Willis Ward is quiet and unassuming, and popular with coaches and fellow members of the squad.
15.
When Willis Ward decided to try out for the football team as a sophomore, Michigan track fans worried that Willis Ward would be injured.
16.
Willis Ward got the opportunity to prove himself in spring football practice in May 1932.
17.
Willis Ward made the team in 1932 and started four games at end.
18.
Willis Ward led Michigan to Big Ten championships in both indoor and outdoor track.
19.
Willis Ward won the high jump, placed second in the broad jump.
20.
Quiet, unassuming, an above-average student of literature, Willis Ward was the first Negro ever elected to Sphinx, Michigan's junior honor society.
21.
In 1933, Willis Ward started all eight games for Michigan at right end and was a key player in Michigan's second consecutive undefeated football season and national championship.
22.
In December 1933, Willis Ward finished second in close balloting for the Associated Press Big Ten Athlete of the Year award.
23.
Michigan scored only 21 points in the entire 1934 season, and Willis Ward scored 12 of those points.
24.
Willis Ward 'went immediately to the office of the Michigan Daily and wrote an article about it, but it was not published.
25.
Journalist Ralph McGill said "Willis Ward won the football game," arguing the loss of Gibson hurt Georgia Tech more than the loss of Ward hurt Michigan.
26.
Willis Ward recalled that he met "my man Jerry" during freshman orientation in 1932, and the two became friends and roommates when the football team traveled for road games.
27.
Willis Ward agreed to play only after Willis Ward personally asked him to.
28.
Willis Ward proved to be one of the most successful athletes in the history of the University of Michigan.
29.
Willis Ward earned six varsity letters in football and track.
30.
On several occasions, Willis Ward even beat Jesse Owens in the 100-yard dash.
31.
Willis Ward considered quitting football, even writing a letter to Coach Kipke about his intentions of leaving the team.
32.
Willis Ward recalled later that the refusal to let him play against Georgia Tech destroyed his will.
33.
Willis Ward's times were neck-and-neck with Owens' up until the NCAA track and field championship.
34.
Willis Ward took part in the Olympic trials in 1936, but having lost his competitive drive, Ward, in his own words, did not train to his peak and failed to make the US team.
35.
Willis Ward had befriended Owens, his former track competitor, while a student at the University of Michigan.
36.
In 1942, Willis Ward worked as a director for the Ford Motor Company's "ad hoc civil rights division, serving as the liaison between black and white workers" and an advocate for African American employees in the personnel department.
37.
Willis Ward invited Owens to Detroit to replace him and remained with Ford until 1946.
38.
Willis Ward went on to earn a law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1939 and had a distinguished career as a lawyer and judge.
39.
In 1964, Willis Ward spoke out against Barry Goldwater and in favor of Michigan Governor George Romney as a possible Presidential candidate.
40.
Willis Ward later was elected a probate judge in Wayne County, Michigan.
41.
Willis Ward was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1981, as part of the fourth group inducted.
42.
Willis Ward died of cancer, on December 30,1983, at a hospital in Detroit.