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Bob Williams

Quarterback

Inducted 1988

Date of Birth

1/2/1930

Birthplace

Cumberland, MD

School

University of Notre Dame (1948-1950)

Bio

Bob Williams was only 19 years old when he quarterbacked the 1949 Notre Dame team to ten straight victories and the national championship. He completed 56 per cent of his passes, setting a Notre Dame season record that lasted 19 years. His coach, Frank Leahy, said, "This was as great a year as any Notre Dame quarterback has ever had." His best game was against Michigan State where he completed 13 of 16 passes, had a 50 yard punt that went out of bounds at the four, and ran 40 yards for a touchdown on a bootleg play. He was the youngest man on the team but Bob had always been a leader. In high school he was captain in three sports. United Press named him Back of the Year, and he was given consensus All-America recognition and was fifth in the Heisman voting. Notre Dame dropped to a .500 season in 1950, but Bob Williams repeated his first team All-America honors. The Boston Touchdown Club gave him the Swede Nelson Award for sportsmanship. Bob spent two years in the Navy, played three years with the Chicago Bears, and returned home to Baltimore to go into business.