Willie Fleming

Willie Fleming

Willie Fleming in 1960
Date of birth	(1939-02-02) February 2, 1939 (age 78)
Place of birth	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Career information
CFL status	International
Position(s)	RB
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	183 lb (83 kg)
College	Iowa
NFL draft	1961 / Round: 14 / Pick: 196
Drafted by	Philadelphia Eagles
Career history
As player
1959–1967	BC Lions
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star	1963
CFL West All-Star	1961, 1962, 1963
Retired #s	BC Lions #15
Career stats
Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1982

Willie Fleming (born February 2, 1939) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeyes' 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and the BC Lions Wall of Fame. Fleming's number 15 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions. In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration. In 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

Fleming earned the nickname "The Wisp" or "Will 'o the Wisp" because of his elusive running style.

Fleming played halfback at Hamtramck High School in Detroit, winning All-City honors in 1956. His Head Coach was Babe Dimancheff.

In 1957, Fleming began his college career at the University of Iowa, where he was eventually named an Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten player in 1958. In 1958, Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-0-1 Big Ten clinching victory over the University of Minnesota, and led the team in scoring.