Willie Evans (running back) explained
| Position: | Halfback |
| Number: | 48 |
| Birth Date: | 1 December 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Buffalo, New York |
| Death Place: | Buffalo, New York |
| Afldraftyear: | 1960 |
| Afldraftround: | 1 |
| High School: | Buffalo (NY) Emerson |
| College: | Buffalo |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statlabel2: | Games started |
| Highlights: | - UB Athletic Hall of Fame (1978)
- Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2009)
|
Willie Roy Evans (December 1, 1937 - January 4, 2017) was a running back for the University at Buffalo football team in the late 1950s.
In 1958, the Buffalo Bulls refused an offer to play Florida State University in the Tangerine Bowl because Evans and backup defensive end Mike Wilson were not welcome to play in Orlando because they were black.[1] After graduation, Evans was drafted by Ralph Wilson for the inaugural season of the American Football League's Buffalo Bills.[2] After his football career, Willie Evans taught in Buffalo area schools for more than 30 years. He coached football, and tennis and swimming, and ran a city parks program for most of that time as well. He served as an adviser for the university's alumni association.[3]
Evans died in Buffalo on January 4, 2017, aged 79.[4] [5] [6]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: OTL: All Or Nothing. Neel. Eric. ESPN.com. 2017-01-06.
- Book: Rockin' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. Miller. Jeffrey J.. Shaw. Billy. October 1, 2007. ECW Press. 9781550227970. 7476. en.
- Web site: UBAA Board of Directors - UB Alumni. alumni.buffalo.edu. https://web.archive.org/web/20070813034957/http://www.alumni.buffalo.edu/drpl/node/2193. August 13, 2007. 2017-01-06.
- News: Willie Evans, Who Was Barred From a Bowl Game Because of His Color, Dies at 79. January 7, 2017. The New York Times. Slotnik, Daniel E.. January 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705043346/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/07/sports/football/willie-evans-dead.html?_r=0. live. July 5, 2017.
- News: Willie Evans dies; key figure in UB stand against 'whites only' Bowl game. January 5, 2017. The Buffalo News. McNeil, Harold. January 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170107171532/http://buffalonews.com/2017/01/05/willie-r-evans-ub-football-star-late-50s-early-60s-dies/. January 7, 2017.
- News: UB mourns loss of Willie Evans, prominent alumnus and athletics legend. January 5, 2017. University at Buffalo. DellaContrada, John. January 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170108002415/http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2017/01/009.html. live. January 8, 2017.
