Richard Willis (1919 - 1990)

Richard's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Willis family tree.

Richard's Family

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We currently do not have photos of Richard Willis. Below are potential family photos that share Richard's last name or surname. Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Richard during various points of his life

Hannah and Nathan "Nate" House

Dwain and Geraldine Willis

Helen M Willis

Willis family

Madeline (Hill) and Richard Gifford Willis

Annette Rhinehart Willis

Kennary Adriana Willis

Wayne Willis

Ruth (Stephens) Willis

Carolyne Willis

Paulette (Willis) Porter

Ruth (Stephens) Willis

Ruth (Stephens) Willis

Valarie J (Willis) Jackson

Valarie J (Willis) Jackson

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In 1919, in the year that Richard Willis was born, in the summer and early autumn, race riots erupted in 26 U.S. cities, resulting in hundreds of deaths and even more people being badly hurt. In most cases, African-Americans were the victims. It was called the "Red Summer". Men who were returning from World War I needed jobs and there was competition for those jobs among the races. Tension was heightened by the use by many companies of blacks as strikebreakers.

In 1926, by the time he was merely 7 years old, on October 31st, Harry Houdini died in Michigan. Houdini was the most famed magician of his time and perhaps of all time, especially for his acts involving escapes - from handcuffs, straitjackets, chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, and more. He was president of the Society of American Magicians and stringently upheld professional ethics. He died of complications from a ruptured appendix. Although he had received a blow to the area a couple of days previously, the connection between the blow and his appendicitis is disputed.

In 1946, by the time he was 27 years old, pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock's book "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" was published. It sold half a million copies in the first six months. Aside from the Bible, it became the best selling book of the 20th century. A generation of Baby Boomers were raised by the advice of Dr. Spock.

In 1957, by the time he was 38 years old, on September 24th, the "Little Rock Nine" (nine African-American students) entered Little Rock High School. Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus had previously prevented the students from entering the school at the beginning of the term with the Arkansas National Guard - they blocked the door. President Eisenhower ordered federal troops - the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army - to guard the students and allow them entry.

In 1990, in the year of Richard Willis's passing, after 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela, the leader of the movement to end South African apartheid was released on February 11th 1990.