Reginald Williams (born September 19, 1954) is a former professional American football player. He is a member of the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame.[1][2] Williams served three years on the Cincinnati City Council.[2]
Williams was born on September 19, 1954 in Flint, Michigan.[3] The son of Elijah and Julia Williams, he overcame a hearing disability as a child. Williams was a star athlete and student at Flint Southwestern High School. He played competitive football and also wrestled. As a junior, he played linebacker, but switched to fullback his senior year.
The recipient of an academic scholarship, Williams was a three-time All-Ivy League linebacker in football and Ivy League heavyweight wrestling champion in 1975[citation needed] at Dartmouth College, graduating[2] in 1976 with an A.B. in psychology. He also took courses there in tai chi and ballet.[4]
NFL career
In 1976, Williams was drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals, for whom he played 14 seasons,[2] (including two Super Bowls,[4] XVI (1981) and XXIII (1988)).
Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries, still a franchise record. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, the second most in the team's history.[5] In his final two seasons with Cincinnati, he was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket.
Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron "Whizzer" White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), and the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986). He was also named Co-Sportsman of the Year in 1987 by Sports Illustrated.
Post-NFL life
After retiring from the NFL, Williams joined the World League of American Football as the Vice President/General Manager of the New York/New Jersey Knights.[3] He later rejoined the NFL, where he conceived and opened the NFL's first Youth Education Town (YET) in Los Angeles.
Williams was hired as director of sports development for Disney on April 19, 1993.[4] In the mid-1990s, he oversaw the creation of Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art 220-acre (0.89 km2) multi-sport facility that opened on March 28, 1997 and hosts more than 180 athletic events annually in some 30 sports.[2][6] By 1998, he had become Vice President of Disney Sports Attractions, where he oversaw a newly created sports and recreation division[4] that merged Walt Disney World Resort Recreation, Water Parks, and Disney Sports Attractions. The latter included Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, the Walt Disney World Speedway, and Walt Disney World Golf.[citation needed] Williams retired from Disney in November 2007, stepping down to focus on rehabilitating his legs from damage sustained during his playing NFL career.[2]
Although he was a starter for 14 seasons, Williams played most of his career on a bad right knee. He has had 24 knee surgeries since his career ended. He had the first surgery in 1979, plus knee replacements as well as multiple infections.[7] In 2008, when he was diagnosed with the bone infection osteomylitis, he had eight surgeries in five months. His right leg is now 2 5/8 inches shorter than his left one, and he has struggled to avoid having it amputated.[7] Williams uses cannabis to treat the pain and inflammation present in his knee, which he says has allowed him to walk without crutches again.[8][9]
In December 2007 Williams was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.[2] He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth College in 1990 and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[10] Williams now lives in Sarasota, Florida.
Reggie is the author of the book Resilient by Nature, released in September 2020 and published by Post Hill Press.[11]
References
^Maghielse, Ross (September 4, 2013). "Flint native Reggie Williams struggling with injuries, aftermath of NFL career". Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
^ abcdefgRobbins, Josh (November 14, 2007). "Reggie Williams to step down as Disney vice president of sports attractions". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
^ ab"THE DAILY Goes One-on-One With Reggie Williams". Sports Business Daily. No. 125. March 21, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
^ abcdSolano, Javier (March 27, 1998). "Directing Sports Of Disney". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
^Dame, Mike (2002-09-18). . Daily Press. Tribune Publishing. Go2Orlando. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
^ abDaugherty, Paul (August 25, 2013). "Ex-Bengal Reggie Williams fighting to save his leg". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
^Daugherty, Paul (November 22, 2016). "Doc: Medical cannabis an ally in Reggie Williams' fight against pain". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
^Harris, Zach (August 30, 2017). "Reggie Williams Opens Up About His Journey from NFL Star to Cannabis Activist". Merry Jane. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
^"Dartmouth's Reggie Williams Selected for College Football Hall of Fame".
reggie, williams, linebacker, other, people, with, same, name, reggie, williams, disambiguation, reginald, williams, born, september, 1954, former, professional, american, football, player, member, greater, flint, area, sports, hall, fame, greater, flint, afro. For other people with the same name see Reggie Williams disambiguation Reginald Williams born September 19 1954 is a former professional American football player He is a member of the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame the Greater Flint Afro American Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame 1 2 Williams served three years on the Cincinnati City Council 2 Reggie WilliamsNo 57Position Outside linebackerPersonal informationBorn 1954 09 19 September 19 1954 age 68 Flint Michigan U S Height 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Weight 230 lb 104 kg Career informationHigh school Flint Southwestern Flint Michigan College DartmouthNFL Draft 1976 Round 3 Pick 82Career historyCincinnati Bengals 1976 1989 Career highlights and awardsNFL Man of the Year 1986 PFWA All Rookie Team 1976 Whizzer White NFL Man of the Year Award 1985 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year 1987 Career NFL statisticsSacks 62 5Interceptions 16Touchdowns 3Player stats at NFL comCollege Football Hall of Fame Contents 1 Early life 2 NFL career 3 Post NFL life 4 ReferencesEarly life EditWilliams was born on September 19 1954 in Flint Michigan 3 The son of Elijah and Julia Williams he overcame a hearing disability as a child Williams was a star athlete and student at Flint Southwestern High School He played competitive football and also wrestled As a junior he played linebacker but switched to fullback his senior year The recipient of an academic scholarship Williams was a three time All Ivy League linebacker in football and Ivy League heavyweight wrestling champion in 1975 citation needed at Dartmouth College graduating 2 in 1976 with an A B in psychology He also took courses there in tai chi and ballet 4 NFL career EditIn 1976 Williams was drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals for whom he played 14 seasons 2 including two Super Bowls 4 XVI 1981 and XXIII 1988 Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries still a franchise record During his career Williams amassed 62 5 sacks the second most in the team s history 5 In his final two seasons with Cincinnati he was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket Williams has received numerous honors including selection to the NFL All Rookie Team 1976 the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service 1985 and the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award 1986 He was also named Co Sportsman of the Year in 1987 by Sports Illustrated Post NFL life EditAfter retiring from the NFL Williams joined the World League of American Football as the Vice President General Manager of the New York New Jersey Knights 3 He later rejoined the NFL where he conceived and opened the NFL s first Youth Education Town YET in Los Angeles Williams was hired as director of sports development for Disney on April 19 1993 4 In the mid 1990s he oversaw the creation of Disney s Wide World of Sports Complex a state of the art 220 acre 0 89 km2 multi sport facility that opened on March 28 1997 and hosts more than 180 athletic events annually in some 30 sports 2 6 By 1998 he had become Vice President of Disney Sports Attractions where he oversaw a newly created sports and recreation division 4 that merged Walt Disney World Resort Recreation Water Parks and Disney Sports Attractions The latter included Disney s Wide World of Sports Complex the Walt Disney World Speedway and Walt Disney World Golf citation needed Williams retired from Disney in November 2007 stepping down to focus on rehabilitating his legs from damage sustained during his playing NFL career 2 Although he was a starter for 14 seasons Williams played most of his career on a bad right knee He has had 24 knee surgeries since his career ended He had the first surgery in 1979 plus knee replacements as well as multiple infections 7 In 2008 when he was diagnosed with the bone infection osteomylitis he had eight surgeries in five months His right leg is now 2 5 8 inches shorter than his left one and he has struggled to avoid having it amputated 7 Williams uses cannabis to treat the pain and inflammation present in his knee which he says has allowed him to walk without crutches again 8 9 In December 2007 Williams was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame 2 He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth College in 1990 and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity 10 Williams now lives in Sarasota Florida Reggie is the author of the book Resilient by Nature released in September 2020 and published by Post Hill Press 11 References Edit Maghielse Ross September 4 2013 Flint native Reggie Williams struggling with injuries aftermath of NFL career Flint Journal Mlive Media Group Retrieved April 25 2016 a b c d e f g Robbins Josh November 14 2007 Reggie Williams to step down as Disney vice president of sports attractions Orlando Sentinel Retrieved April 25 2016 a b THE DAILY Goes One on One With Reggie Williams Sports Business Daily No 125 March 21 2007 Retrieved April 26 2016 a b c d Solano Javier March 27 1998 Directing Sports Of Disney Orlando Sentinel Retrieved April 25 2016 News Around the NFL NFL com Dame Mike 2002 09 18 Sports Complex overview Daily Press Tribune Publishing Go2Orlando Archived from the original on June 17 2011 Retrieved 2008 09 05 a b Daugherty Paul August 25 2013 Ex Bengal Reggie Williams fighting to save his leg The Cincinnati Enquirer Retrieved March 15 2018 Daugherty Paul November 22 2016 Doc Medical cannabis an ally in Reggie Williams fight against pain The Cincinnati Enquirer Retrieved March 17 2018 Harris Zach August 30 2017 Reggie Williams Opens Up About His Journey from NFL Star to Cannabis Activist Merry Jane Retrieved March 17 2018 Dartmouth s Reggie Williams Selected for College Football Hall of Fame Resilient by Nature Buy on Amazon ISBN 1642933880 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reggie Williams linebacker amp oldid 1142550248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
