W&M Welcomes Former NFL Legend, Writer, Civil Rights Activist, and Disney Executive Reggie Williams
Thursday, October 7, 2021 | 5:30 pm
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
Former National Football League player Reggie Williams kicks off the Hayes Writers Series with an appearance on Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Commonwealth Auditorium. Williams will read from his memoir “Resilient by Nature.” Growing up as an African American in the 1950s, Williams faced many difficulties including a hearing defect and a speech impediment from an early age, according to event organizers. Williams went on to play college football at Dartmouth and in the NFL for 14 years, playing in two Super Bowls. The NFL honored Williams with its Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 1986 and Sports Illustrated gave him its Sportsman of the Year Award in 1987. After football, Williams went on to a highly successful business career with Disney Corporation.