Willie Wilkin
American football player
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | American football player | |
| Places | United States of America | |
| was | American football player | |
| Work field | Sports | |
| Gender |
| |
| Birth | 20 April 1916 | |
| Death | 16 May 1973 (aged 57 years) |
The details
Biography
Wilbur Byrne "Wee Willie" Wilkin (April 20, 1916 – May 16, 1973) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. Wilkin also played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Chicago Rockets. He attended St. Mary's College of California.
Early life
Wilkin was born in Bingham Canyon, Utah and attended Springville High School in Springville, Utah, where he played high school football, basketball, and track and field.
College career
Wilkin attended and played college football at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California, graduating in 1938. He was inducted into the Saint Mary's College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973. After college, Wilkin briefly worked in a silver mine in Mexico.
NFL
Wilkin signed with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League in 1938, and played for the Redskins from 1938 to 1943. During that span, he played in three NFL Championship games, winning the 1942 NFL Championship Game. He also scored the only touchdown of his career in 1942, off of a blocked punt in a win over the Cleveland Rams.
Military career
Wilkin signed up for the United States Marine Corps in 1946, during World War II. While in service, he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and played for their football team.
AAFC
After his service with the Marines ended, Wilkin signed with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference in 1946.
Teaching and coaching
After retiring from football, Wilkin became a math and social studies high school teacher for special needs children in Monterey County, California. While teaching, he was also an offensive line coach for Monterey High School. He later moved to Deer Lodge, Montana.
Personal
Wilkin was married and had twin sons. Both sons, John Sharpe Wilkin and Christopher Wilkin, died in an automobile accident in 1965. In 1970, he had a brain tumor successfully removed. However, two years later, he developed stomach cancer and died on May 16, 1973 in Palo Alto, California.