Schulenburg Great Adams Returns to Town

Former Shorthorn State Champ and NFL Star Honored at SHS Pep Rally

The Fayette County Record

Schulenburg Shorthorn football legend Willis Adams returned to his alma mater on Friday, Aug. 26, for a special honor. During the school pep rally on Friday, Schulenburg I.S.D. presented Adams with one of his old jerseys and several paintings of him that the school will proudly hang in the foyer of the High School Gym. Adams was a wide receiver on the 1972 Shorthorn team that won the state football title. He went on to play for the University of Houston before being picked in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Adams played for the Browns from 1979 to 1985. He went on to become a physical education teacher and a big proponent for youth fitness and athletics. A standing-room-only packed the High School Gym Friday afternoon for the pep rally. Not only the entire student body, but scores of townspeople and alumni filled the building.

Schulenburg City Council- man Greg “Wolf ” Thomas organized the event. Thomas introduced Adams at the pep rally. He called Adams one of his biggest role models growing up.

“I watched Willis throughout time, after he retired, and his walk in life,” Thomas said. “I thought everything he did in his life was so great. I wanted to know what it would be like to have respect and walk a Christian life. And I’ll tell you what, everything that I’ve been involved with that’s been a success was because I turned my life over to Christ and followed in the footsteps that Willis took.”

Thomas had a surprise in store for Adams. Before Adams spoke, Thomas introduced a couple of other football legends - Adams’ teammate from the Browns, Yoakum native Charlie Hall, and Adams’ competitor and friend Earl Cooper, who grew up in Lexington and won two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers. Adams said the two men, along with his wife, were the most influential people in his life.

“The good thing about football is that you don’t have to play it by yourself,” Adams said to the Shorthorn football team during his pep rally speech.

“I used to tell my students that I can’t be the teacher all by myself,” Adams said “I need their help.You never do anything in life on your own.” After his speech, Schulenburg Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Walt Brock presented Adams with the framed jersey that will hang in the foyer. The senior football players presented him with photos and a painting of Adams from his playing days. They will also be on display in the foyer. “I am truly honored and thankful,” Adams said to the crowd.