Hall of Fame

Willie Phillips

  • Class
  • Induction
    1997
  • Sport(s)
    Football
  • Southern
Background & Education
  • Phillips was a native of Baton Rouge.
  • He graduated from McKinley Senior High School.
  • He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southern University.
Athletic Career at Southern
  • He was a standout football player for Southern University and was described as a “three-time All America in football” at the school.
  • He was voted as the greatest all-around back to play at Southern University.
  • He was co-captain of what was described as the first interracial bowl game in the United States, playing against San Francisco State University in 1948 at the Fruit Bowl.
  • He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1948.
  • He was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame as a member of Southern University’s athletics program.