We were not poor but we could see its face. Americans were slammed hard during The Great Depression and again in 1941 with Pearl Harbor then WWII and Korea. But for those who endured that era of desecration, despair, and sacrifice, a new component was forged into the DNA of American resolve, the ability and wherewithal to rise up and quickly overcome.

On July 4, 1939 an only child was born at home in the small farm town of Vienna, Illinois, just 22 miles north of Paducah, Kentucky, to Don and Roena Willis. They named him Don Joseph. In his boyhood he fondly remembers his Grand Pa Daniels picking corn by hand while he rode in the horse-drawn wagon pulled by Dixie and Topsey. You could say times were hard but to Don Junior, two pairs of jeans and one pair of shoes a year was normal. 

In 1942, his dad left for the Navy where he served as an electrician with reconstruction of damaged Navy vessels in dry dock at Guam and the Philippines. Six years after his discharge, in 1951 he, Roena, and 12-year-old Donald traveled 306 miles north to Chillicothe, Illinois. Don Senior worked for Foster and Jacobs and they acquired a new house on Wilson Avenue.

At Pearce Grade School, young Don excelled in basketball under Coach Tom Mooney with some good teammates like Jim Tucker, Jim Dolph, Phil Augustine and soon-to-be his best friend Troy Childers, who helped to steer him toward Track, which he knew nothing about but learned to love and startle people with his remarkable come from behind speed. Coach Mooney told Don the secret to the quarter mile was to start out as fast as you can go and then increase your speed. That formula was good for the next five years in all the different events he ran in as a Grey Ghost and Bradley Brave which garnered numerous trophies, awards, and two  Sports scholarships in his career. Coaches George Taylor and Dale Lober were highly instrumental in Don’s success.

As a sophomore in high school, he discovered Phyllis Ann Riconne, a Junior, at a football game where she played in the band, and the feeling was mutual. At age 16 he boldly announced that someday they would marry and have four children. Don played football his Senior year as a halfback and with devastating trap blocks from Jim Tucker and other ghosts, he chewed up yardage and scored frequently. It was hard to catch this lanky 6 foot 2, 157 pound speedster when the boys opened the door and released the wind. He graduated in 1957 and married his high school sweetheart on December 14, 1958. 

After one year at Bradley and an offer from Eureka, he decided to start a career in electricity at Schaeffer Electric in a 5-year apprentice program where he met a man named Don Maples who he held in the highest regard as a mentor and dear friend. 

The good Lord blessed Don and Phyllis with four children—two strong boys and two very beautiful girls—Joe in 1960, Shari Lea in 63, Don James in 67, and Lou Ann in 72. In Don’s career he worked for Schaeffer Electric, Foster Jacobs, Bud Ruff , and was Co-Owner in Laser Electric, he now helps operate Willis Electric. Phyllis also had her own career in banking for 35 years with Truitt Mathews 1st National. 

Not long ago, a man was asked one simple question, one that should have been so easy to convey, but as he sat there for several moments gathering his thoughts, his eyes welled up with moisture then his voice quivered slightly—he was asked to describe Don Willis. It was hard for him to speak but the reverent son finally said, “He is caring and giving to family and friends and helping others in need. Also teaching and setting his best example to others with a genuine respect for them.” Mr. Webster defines a champion as a winner of competition or someone who defends another person or cause. He also says a Hero is a person of exceptional qualities and a legend is a story handed down from the past accepted as popularly true. It would appear that Don Willis checks all those boxes since arriving in Chillicothe 73 years ago and acquiring a track record impossible to dispute. 

On July 4, 2024 he will be 85 years old. To this date Don and Phyllis have 4 children, 16 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Not bad for an only child from humble beginnings. A child who came to Chillicothe and found he could run like the wind and would shape and change the lives of so many. Over the years Don has been thankful for the success he and his family have had from the working relationships in and around Chillicothe and has shown much support to charities, volunteer work, benefits, many sports activities, St. Jude runners, Susan G Komen, Brad Wallen, IVC athletics, IVC Band, Methodist Church, Youth Football, PCC, IVC Graduations, and donated services just to name a few. Willis Electric started in 1993 and has been a great partner with Chillicothe for more than 30 years. 

The Don Willis Story is much more encompassing than one page can hold and in the later 50s there was a bounty of very talented Grey Ghost athletes in all sports, but in Track, there were arguably few to match Don’s swiftness. Coach Taylor said, “You could almost expect a first from Don in the 100, 220, and the 400 every meet and he also ran the 440 Relay.” In 1957, The C Club members honored Don with the Pat Mooney Award given by Coach Tom Mooney for the Highest Quality of Sportsmanship. 

Most of Don’s life revolved around family, faith, hard work, and sports. In this author’s thoughts, there is no more of a likable person than Don, with his deep baritone voice and infectious laugh. He is modestly proud of his achievements and success and gives much credit to Phyllis, his 66-year partner and life’s compass. Is Don Willis a Hero? Well, just check his Track record. There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, stature, and occupations and now Don J. Willis joins those ranks. Happy Birthday sir and many more. Thanks for the memories.