WILLIE JAMES ADAMS CLASS OF 1961 HALL OF FAME MEMBER IN MEMORIAM INDUCTED 10-01-25

 HALL OF FAME MEMBER IN MEMORIAM

“THE BIG MAN HAD A HEART OF GOLD”
(December 12, 1941 to September 2022)

Willie James Adams was on the Roy Miller High School and was on the 1960 State Championship 4-A football team. He was named to the All-State team and graduated in 1961.  Willie Adams passed away September 28, 2019 in Fort Worth at the age of 77 years. He along with teammate Johnny Roland, were the second and third black football players to be named to the First Team All-State by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Their Buccaneer teammate Bobby Smith was the first black player to be named first-team all-state in 1959. Bobby called Willie as, "a guy that was very likable and lovable".

Bobby, remembered that his teammates at Miller used to joke with gigantic Wille about his size when he got on the bus to go to football games. "I give him credit for making me into the player I was in high school," He said, "Going up against him and Art Delgado." Bobby, Willie, and football legend from Roy Miller, Johnny Roland played in the NFL.

Willie was a two-way player on both the offensive and defensive line during the 1962 football season. Coached by Cameron Hall of Fame coaches Leroy Montgomery and Charlie Dean, the big man was named an All-American for his strong play with the Aggies. He was a member of the "Dirty 30".

At 6-foot 4 inches and weighing 230-pound Willie soon became an All-American defensive lineman at New Mexico State where he played three seasons. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Washington Redskins in 1964-65 NFL Draft. Willie played two seasons in the NFL before signing with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, where he played two seasons. The 1960 Buccaneers were the first integrated team to win a UIL State football championship and followed the 1959 Ray Texans winning back-to-back state football championships in Corpus Christi.

    Willie with his Wife, Henrietta Adams