Zema Williams (July 7, 1941 – July 19, 2016), better known as Chief Zee, was a well-known fan and unofficial mascot of the franchise then known as the Washington Redskins, which has since been renamed the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. Dressed in a faux Native Americanwar bonnet, rimmed glasses, and red jacket, Chief Zee began attending Redskins games in 1978.
Chief Zee
Chief Zee with a fan at FedEx Field on January 10, 2016
Born in Colquitt, Georgia on July 7, 1941,[1] Williams worked as a sharecropper and picked cotton as a youth. He later drove a truck, when he got a draft notice in 1960. Two years later, he completed his military service at Fort Riley, and returned to driving trucks. By 1968, he was a car salesman in Washington, D.C.[2]
Williams first showed up in costume at RFK Stadium on September 10, 1978.[3] In 1983, Chief Zee attended a game against the Eagles at Veterans Stadium. Following their team's 10-point loss to the Redskins,[4] he was attacked, suffering a broken arm, leg and ribs as well as a torn original costume, leaving him hospitalized.[5] He returned the next year to Philadelphia but after a woman threw a beer in his face, it was his last time.[6]
On August 9, 2008, Williams set down his signature prop, a toy tomahawk, while he was signing autographs at the Redskins' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. When he turned to retrieve it, it was gone. The 12-inch tomahawk has a slender wooden handle with a rubber blade, and appears in many photos of Williams since he started attending Redskins games over 30 years prior.[7] By August 28, 2008, Chief Zee's tomahawk has been returned to him with the help of Redskins tight endChris Cooley who got a call from someone that said they had it. He swapped a signed jersey for the tomahawk.[8]
In his later years, Williams lived on Social Security and had difficulty walking. Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, purchased the scooter that he used. Williams also faced eviction due to not being able to keep up with his rent, but several fans used a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough to pay both back rent and enough ahead that the situation would not arise again.[9]
November 7, 1985, was declared "Chief Zee Day" in Washington, D.C.
In 2000, Visa and the Pro Football Hall of Fame selected the biggest fan of each of the then-31 teams and placed them in an exhibit in Canton. He was the fan chosen for the Washington Redskins.
Controversy
Some consider Williams' portrayal of American Indians to have been offensive.[11][12] His use of a stylized headdress was often referenced as the reason for offense, as the headdress is a sacred, central cultural item for many tribes.[13]
^Terl, Matt (April 21, 2016). "Unobstructed View: Pigskins Fans Lend a Hand to the Man Behind Chief Zee". The Washington City Paper.
^Stabley, Matthew (July 19, 2016). "Redskins Superfan Chief Zee Has Died". NBC Washington. NBC News. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
^. Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
^Milloy, Courtland (21 October 2009). "On the sidelines, the sad symbol of a sorry tradition". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
^"Law Enforcement Repatriates Eagle Feather War Bonnet to Standing Rock Sioux". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999-11-04. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chief Zee.
August 23, 2023
chief, zema, williams, july, 1941, july, 2016, better, known, well, known, unofficial, mascot, franchise, then, known, washington, redskins, which, since, been, renamed, washington, commanders, national, football, league, dressed, faux, native, american, bonne. Zema Williams July 7 1941 July 19 2016 better known as Chief Zee was a well known fan and unofficial mascot of the franchise then known as the Washington Redskins which has since been renamed the Washington Commanders of the National Football League Dressed in a faux Native American war bonnet rimmed glasses and red jacket Chief Zee began attending Redskins games in 1978 Chief ZeeChief Zee with a fan at FedEx Field on January 10 2016Born 1941 07 07 July 7 1941Colquitt GeorgiaDiedJuly 19 2016 2016 07 19 aged 75 Oxon Hill Maryland Contents 1 History 2 Honors 3 Controversy 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditBorn in Colquitt Georgia on July 7 1941 1 Williams worked as a sharecropper and picked cotton as a youth He later drove a truck when he got a draft notice in 1960 Two years later he completed his military service at Fort Riley and returned to driving trucks By 1968 he was a car salesman in Washington D C 2 Williams first showed up in costume at RFK Stadium on September 10 1978 3 In 1983 Chief Zee attended a game against the Eagles at Veterans Stadium Following their team s 10 point loss to the Redskins 4 he was attacked suffering a broken arm leg and ribs as well as a torn original costume leaving him hospitalized 5 He returned the next year to Philadelphia but after a woman threw a beer in his face it was his last time 6 On August 9 2008 Williams set down his signature prop a toy tomahawk while he was signing autographs at the Redskins preseason game against the Buffalo Bills When he turned to retrieve it it was gone The 12 inch tomahawk has a slender wooden handle with a rubber blade and appears in many photos of Williams since he started attending Redskins games over 30 years prior 7 By August 28 2008 Chief Zee s tomahawk has been returned to him with the help of Redskins tight end Chris Cooley who got a call from someone that said they had it He swapped a signed jersey for the tomahawk 8 In his later years Williams lived on Social Security and had difficulty walking Dan Snyder the owner of the Redskins purchased the scooter that he used Williams also faced eviction due to not being able to keep up with his rent but several fans used a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough to pay both back rent and enough ahead that the situation would not arise again 9 Williams died in his sleep on July 19 2016 10 Honors EditNovember 7 1985 was declared Chief Zee Day in Washington D C In 2000 Visa and the Pro Football Hall of Fame selected the biggest fan of each of the then 31 teams and placed them in an exhibit in Canton He was the fan chosen for the Washington Redskins Controversy EditSome consider Williams portrayal of American Indians to have been offensive 11 12 His use of a stylized headdress was often referenced as the reason for offense as the headdress is a sacred central cultural item for many tribes 13 See also EditThe Barrel Man Crazy Ray Fireman Ed Hogettes License Plate GuyReferences Edit Redskins Fans Pay Respects To Zema Williams At Funeral Service Archived from the original on 23 March 2017 Retrieved 20 April 2017 Wise Mike September 3 2013 Chief Zee s time as Redskins unofficial mascot is nearly over washingtonpost com Retrieved July 12 2016 Super Fan Chief Zee s Heartfelt Comfort to the Enemy Retrieved on 2007 11 11 Washington Philadelphia dataBse Football com Archived from the original on 2011 11 22 Redskins fan sidelined washingtontimes com July 17 2006 Retrieved July 19 2016 McKenna Dave Chief Zee Washington s Naive Aggressively Racist Mascot Is Dead Deadspin Retrieved 28 July 2016 Marissa Newhall Names amp Faces Washingtonpost com Retrieved 2016 07 20 Tomahawk returned dead link Terl Matt April 21 2016 Unobstructed View Pigskins Fans Lend a Hand to the Man Behind Chief Zee The Washington City Paper Stabley Matthew July 19 2016 Redskins Superfan Chief Zee Has Died NBC Washington NBC News Retrieved July 19 2016 How Chief Zee Could Change the History of Washington Football Archived from the original on February 19 2011 Retrieved March 26 2010 Milloy Courtland 21 October 2009 On the sidelines the sad symbol of a sorry tradition The Washington Post Retrieved 5 August 2014 Law Enforcement Repatriates Eagle Feather War Bonnet to Standing Rock Sioux U S Fish and Wildlife Service 1999 11 04 Retrieved 2016 07 20 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chief Zee Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chief Zee amp oldid 1159971598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
