Scouting alumnus Tim Willis offers a clear example of growth, perseverance, achievement, and service. Blind by age 10 due to Coats disease, Willis competed in cross country and track using a simple tether system with a guide runner. He wrestled in high school, ran in college, and became the first blind athlete to compete in NCAA Division I cross country at Georgia Southern University. An Eagle Scout, he approached athletics with the same emphasis on preparation, teamwork, and self-reliance familiar to many in Scouting.
Willis’ trailblazing continued. During his competitive career from 1990 to 2000, he won gold in the 10,000 meters at the 1994 World Championships, set two world records and 12 national records, and earned five Paralympic medals. Four came at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games—silver in the 10,000 meters and bronze in three other events—followed by another bronze in Sydney in 2000. What stays with him, though, are his consistent training and the friendships he cultivated, rather than any single race or victory.
Athletics also created opportunities beyond sport. Support from a Paralympic sponsor enabled Willis to attend Mercer University School of Law while still training. He graduated in 2000, passed the Georgia bar exam, and began practicing law with a growing focus on disability rights. His work has included policy and litigation that has improved public transportation accessibility in Georgia and national service with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, where he continues to help expand opportunities and funding for athletes with disabilities, including veterans.
Now based in Chattanooga, Willis balances legal practice, consulting, and advocacy, with work spanning disability rights, nonprofit governance, and general legal services. He no longer competes but remains engaged with the running community and grateful for all he has learned. His accomplishments were formally recognized with induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on February 21, marking a record defined by impact and Scout spirit—in athletics, law, and public service.
Read more 👇
https://den.mercer.edu/a-paralympic-champion-mercer-alumnus-uses-law-degree-for-disability-advocacy/
https://www.georgiasportshalloffame.com/class-of-2026