Willie Bethea
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| Born: | July 21, 1938 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | January 5, 2024 (aged 85) |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | HB, FB |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| College | Rider |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1963–1970 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Willie Bethea (July 21, 1938 – January 5, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won the Grey Cup with them in 1963, 1965 and 1967.[1]
Bethea was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 21, 1938,[1] He was an All-American in football in high school, and attended Rider College on a scholarship to play basketball. They did not have a football team. Bethea played semi-pro football with the Paterson Miners, and secured a trial with the National Football League's Baltimore Colts in 1962. He joined Hamilton in 1963.[2]
Bethea was inducted into the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour in 2012.[3] He died on January 5, 2024, at the age of 85.[4][1]
