Eldrid G. Willyard (1991) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Eldrid G. Willyard

Induction:
1991
Class:
1924

1923-24
Basketball
‘24

According to Eldrid “Bus” Willyard, football was his favorite game. And although Willyard was considered a very talented player, it was in basketball that he gained the most honors. “Bus” who earned his nickname from his mother who called him Buster, gained a reputation of being the most formidable tackler on the Akron football squad. A 60-minute left end for Head Coach Fred Sefton, Willyard played on the winning teams of 1922 (5-3) and 1923 (4-3-1). Standing 5-11, Willlyard weighted 155 for football and then slimmed down to 145 for basketball. It was Willyard’s lot to replace Hall of Famer Carl, “Red” Daum on the 1923 UA basketball squad. He didn’t let his coach nor the fans down. The starting right guard, Willyard excelled on defense and rebounding the basketball as the Zips compiled a 12-1 record. His efforts did not go unnoticed as he was selected on the All-Ohio Conference all-star squad. Playing alongside Hall of Famers Verlin Jenkins and Hayes Jenkins (no relation), the UA cagers lost only to Ohio Conference Champion Oberlin. As a senior, Willyard was captain as the team compiled a 10-3 mark. Willyard, a native of Revenue, who passed away at the age of 84 in 1987, coached football for one year at Cleveland Glenville High School then returned to his hometown to begin a 50-year career as owner and operator of Ravenna Lumber and Coal Company. A charter inductee into the Portage County Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. Willyard and his wife, Ortha, had two daughters, Abby Stoerkel and Rindy Jones.