Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > April > 01 > Entry
Trying to find ex-Bengal Fred Willis
WILLIS A MYSTERY MAN
I’d love to do a “where are they now” story on former Cincinnati Bengals running back Fred Willis.
But I can’t find him.
My passion, which borders on obsession, is finding former Bengals players. I have about 250 email addresses — and almost as many phone numbers — of Bengal alumni … and so many more players to find.
My lofty goal is finding 60-year-old Frederick Francis Willis III.
Willis’ last known address was a condo on Blithewood Avenue in Worcester, Mass.
He is believed to be living on Cape Cod.
This much I know:
The 6-foot, 212-pound Willis — born on Dec. 9, 1947 in Natick, Mass. — was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 following a six-year NFL career (1971-76) in which he spent parts of two years with the Bengals (1971-72) and five with the Houston Oilers (1972-76).
Drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 1971 Draft after becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher in BC history, Willis and tailback Paul Robinson were traded to the Oilers during the ‘72 season for wide receiver Charlie Joiner and linebacker Ron Pritchard.
Willis’ NFL career statistics: 2,831 rushing yards, 1,830 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns (18 rushing) in 77 career games — 19 with the Bengals; 58 for the Oilers.
If anyone out there has any information on Willis, please contact me at:
cludwig@daytondailynews.com
FOR MORE ON FRED WILLIS, GO TO
http://bceagles.cstv.com/genrel/willis_fred00.html
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillFr00.htm
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Bengals TB Paul Robinson (1968-72) is a Graham County juvenile probation officer in Safford, Ariz., located two hours east of Tucson. He played five years with the Bengals, spent parts of two seasons with the Oilers (1972-73) and helped the Birmingham Americans to the 1974 World Football League championship.
Bengals WR Charlie Joiner (1972-75) retired after seven seasons as wide receivers coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (2001-07). He played 18 seasons for the Oilers (1969-1972), Bengals (1972-1975) and San Diego Chargers (1976-1986), and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bengals LB Ron Pritchard (1972-77), a grandfather of five, is athletic director at Surrey Garden Christian School, a K-12 private school, in Gilbert, Ariz. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 as the first consensus All-America in Arizona State football history.
To view a story on Ron, go to:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/0119gr-surrey19Z12.html
Send your memories of Robinson (AKA “The Cactus Comet” and “Straight Runner”), Joiner, Pritchard and Willis to:
cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Tom
April 1, 2008 7:22 AM | Link to this
My best memory of Robinson, is when he scored the only TD in Arizona’s 7-0 win over OSU. As a U of A alumnus, it was a big charge. Glad to hear he’s doing alright for himself.By ms
April 1, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Even with baseball starting..reading about former Bengals is great….I hope you will continue to do this…Guys like Horst Muhlman…Corny Craig and Coy Bacon are players many of us grew up with…The Bengals are the worst team in sports at remembering and honoring their alumni and that is a disgrace…How a franchise can ignore the men that make up its history is unreal…Nice job Chick and thanks..Since your Browns writer doesn’t seem to care about his blog can you also include some old Browns in your where are they section?? Many of us Bengals fans did grow up with The Browns before Cincinnati came along…Thanks again…By LB
April 1, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Chick - thanks for the interesting topics … makes one wonder … “whatchu talkin bout Willis?” … maybe he ratted-out the mob and is in witness protection keepin it on the down-low. Keep the good stuff comin!