[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[Senate]
[Page 36170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM KARNET ``BILL'' WILLIS

  The resolution (S. Res. 415) honoring the life and recognizing the 
accomplishments of William Karnet ``Bill'' Willis, pioneer and Hall of 
Fame football player for both Ohio State University and the Cleveland 
Browns was considered and agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 415

       Whereas William Karnet Willis (``Bill'') was born on 
     October 5, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio;
       Whereas, in 1942, Bill Willis began playing college 
     football for the Ohio State University's Buckeyes and was a 
     member of the 1942 National Championship team;
       Whereas Bill Willis earned All-American honors at the Ohio 
     State University in 1943 and 1944, becoming the first African 
     American All-American at the Ohio State University;
       Whereas Bill Willis was twice chosen to play in the College 
     All-Star Game, in 1944 and in 1945;
       Whereas, on August 7, 1946, Bill Willis was the first of a 
     pioneering foursome to sign a contract to play professional 
     football for the Cleveland Browns, forever ending the race 
     barrier in professional football;
       Whereas Bill Willis was named 3 times an All-America 
     Football Conference all-league player, named 4 times a 
     National Football League all-league player, and was named to 
     the first 3 Pro Bowls;
       Whereas, in 1950, Bill Willis was a member of the National 
     Football League champion Cleveland Browns and was named the 
     team's Most Valuable Player;
       Whereas, in 1971, Bill Willis was inducted into the 
     National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame;
       Whereas, in 1977, Bill Willis was inducted to the Pro 
     Football Hall of Fame;
       Whereas Bill Willis was synonymous with his number 99 
     jersey in the Ohio State University community, and that 
     number was retired on November 3, 2007;
       Whereas Bill Willis dedicated his life to helping others 
     and served his community honorably on the Ohio Youth 
     Commission;
       Whereas Bill Willis was a beloved community leader, 
     husband, and father; and
       Whereas Ohio has lost a beloved son and a trailblazing 
     pioneer with the passing of Bill Willis on November 27, 2007: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the life and accomplishments of William Karnet 
     ``Bill'' Willis, a dedicated family man, civil servant, and 
     football legend; and
       (2) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution for appropriate 
     display to the family of Bill Willis.

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