Willis Ward Lounge at the Michigan Union Dedicated
Here's a great story. The Willis Ward Lounge at the Michigan Union was dedicated on Wednesday, with several members of Willis Ward's family in attendance.
http://thelivingstonpost.com/willis-ward-lounge-dedicated-at-michigan-u…
I still get mad at how David Brandon resisted any effort to honor Willis Ward when the "Black and Blue" documentary came out. It took an online petition to get him to agree to let Ward be honored at the Michigan-MSU game.
The two players from the past I wish I could have seen play are Tom Harmon and Willis Ward.
Nice and fitting tribute. Is that the old billiards room?
No, the billiards room is one floor above the Willis Ward Lounge. The Ward Lounge is on the first floor, right as you come up the front steps. Stopped there last week. It's a beautiful study lounge.
Excuse my ignorance, but I don't remember the Brandon ordeal vis-a-via Ward. What was the issue / story?
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Back in 2012, the State of Michigan declared Oct. 20 (the anniversary of the Georgia Tech game) as "Willis Ward Day" in the state. The people who pushed this asked Brandon to honor Ward that day at the Michigan-MSU game. He refused. So they started a full-scale online petition drive. He waited until one week before the game before he finally gave in and agreed to honor Ward at the game - something he could have agreed to months earlier.
MVictors was huge in promoting this.
http://mvictors.com/the-willis-ward-petition-78-years-later/
Hey Dave!
Even if someone can't spell "You're"
He spells "you're" as "your," and "yours" as "mine."
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How the hell do you deny Willis Ward his due! Another good reason that we say to DB that
How perfect that his initials are DB!
I would like to know more about Willis Ward. Where might someone find this documentary?
Great documentary. I own a copy, and I've seen two screenings. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAxx5UzKqPA
And you can order a copy here:
I saw the trailer and it looks very well done.
would be VERY happy about this news.
It took three years, but the story then came full circle on May 27, when the Willis Ward Lounge was dedicated. Genna Urbain (who is now an 11-year-old fifth-grader) spoke at the ceremony, and was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to open it.
“I’m glad they finally recognized him,” Genna said.
As are we, Genna.
Thanks for sharing this article, incidentally, OP. I remembered how "Willis Ward Day" began but actually wasn't aware that the culmination would be a room at the Union named in his honor. Awesome indeed.
For those that have not seen "Black And Blue", it is a very good look into that time and into that season and the run-up to the Georgia Tech game in particular.