Hall of Fame
Harvey L. "Curly" McWilliams, a native of Knox County, entered the university in 1903 and became a standout back on the first undefeated Bulldog football team in 1908. After graduating with Pd. B and M. Pd degrees, he attended the University of Missouri where he played football and beat Kansas almost single-handedly, 3-0, with a drop kick in the last minutes of the 1913 game. He returned to the university to direct the athletic program and coach baseball, football and track in 1914 and remained here for the next 11 years. Mr. McWilliams' football coaching record here was 48-26-9 for a percentage of .578. Two of his teams won the undisputed titles and three were co-champions of the old MIAA Conference. His 1924 team won the first football championship of the new MIAA that was born that year. When Mr. McWilliams resigned from the university staff in 1925, President Eugene Fair said, "No Teachers College in Missouri ever has had so strong a coach." A student at the time commented, "He is a big man-big mentally, morally and physically." He moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to operate the Williams-McWilliams Ice Cream store until 1940. Mr. McWilliams moved to Hollywood, Fla. in 1940 to operate another ice scream store until his retirement in 1959. Mr. McWilliams passed away in 1977.
