Mercer Law Letter, Winter 1997

Close your eyes, walk across the room to retrieve something and walk back. It’s not as easy as you think.

Now imagine running a few miles across the countryside led visually only by a shoestring carried by a running partner. The thought seems near impossible for most. Yet Tim Willis has not only scurried cross-country without vision for years but has become a medalist in the Paralympics.

Willis, a first-year law student at Mercer, actually began his athletic career as a wrestler at Shamrock High School in Atlanta. Only a freshman, he was encouraged to run cross country. He admits he was not very good at first but, with the help of good coaches, gradually got better. By his senior year, he was running with the varsity on a team that finished fourth in the state in Class AAA.

"I always liked competition just like anyone else my age," he said. "To get better, I would go out in my front yard and run circles." Day after day he would wear out the grass on his lawn retracing the familiar unseen steps of his personal running course.

When his confidence grew sufficient, he began to run with teammates. Later, it was off to the races. Little did Willis know his running would provide him with new visions ahead. He went on to run cross country at Georgia Southern University. He earned a B.S. degree in 1994 with a major in political science and a minor in justice studies.

Meanwhile, his running success internationally had soared. He became a member of the USA Paralympic Team in 1992. He captured fourth place in the 1,500 meters and fifth place in the 5,000 meters in the Paralympics.

He went on to capture second and third places in the 1994 World Championships in the 5,000 and 1,500 meters, respectively. He became the world record holder for blind runners in the 10,000 meters.

1996 was a banner year for Willis. In the Paralympics in Atlanta, he won a silver medal in the 10,000 meters and bronze medals in the 1,500, 5,000, and 1,600-meters relay.

Willis obtained a new sponsor, BellSouth Mobility, which featured him in its Olympics television commercial. His agreement with BellSouth was in addition to his previous contract with Brooks’ Sports VIP Team since 1994.

To date, Willis holds 13 records, two of which are world marks. His numerous honors include Blind Male Athlete of the Year in 1996 and recognition from such organizations as the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Willis has now adjusted his pace to a goal with a different finish line — that of a degree from the Walter F. George School of Law.

Willis said he was hooked on the Mercer Law School on his first visit. "I was first accepted here and when I visited I could find nothing wrong. It was an ideal situation with nothing negative. I was very well received and totally impressed with my visit. That one day in May I made up my mind I was coming here," he said.

Willis said he first started thinking about a law degree when he was nine or 10 years old. "As I grew older, that was still what I wanted to do," he said.

Although his running schedule has dominated his time since 1994, Willis feels he is ready for the uphill struggle toward a law degree. "I think I'm more ready for law school now than when I got out of college. You really don't know how hard something is going to be until you're there," he said.

Willis is actually not the first blind law student at Mercer and feels technology has given him an advantage. What literature is not available in Braille he can access through speech output on his computer and he has a scanner that can be used with a Braille printer. "There is much technology available," he said. "Many publications are on discs and I think most all of them will be soon. Maybe even by the time I'm in my third year."

Willis said his peers at the Mercer Law School provide a "friendly atmosphere" and he already has met many new people.

His advice for those contemplating a law degree: "If you really want to go to law school, it's a lot of work. Give it a try. Also, work in related courses in undergraduate school. That will only help."

Willis has some lofty goals for the remainder of this century — to earn a law degree and practice law and win a gold medal at the 2000 Paralympic Games.

Obviously, his daily routine for the next few months will include lapping around the law school while trying to get in a couple days work a week in his running shoes. During the summer and holiday breaks, it's off to more serious training once again. He hopes to find more runners to train with in Macon.

First Woodruff Scholars — Law School Dean Larry Dessem, left, and Mercer University President R. Kirby Godsey, right, join the first recipients of the George W. Woodruff Scholarships in front of the scenic Law School building. From the left are Amy Carole Reeder, Tereasa Miller Osborne, David Michael Gould and Clanitra Latrell Stewart.

Initial Woodruff Scholars Prepare to Return Investment

Mercer Law School is proud of its first group of Woodruff Scholars. The scholarships — named for George W. Woodruff, the most significant benefactor of the Walter F. George School of Law — are the most prestigious the School offers.

Advertised through the Admissions Office, there were almost 200 applicants for the scholarships. From this highly competitive pool of applicants, 12 finalists were selected. These finalists were invited to the Law School in February for an interview weekend. The 12 scholars were interviewed by panels of Law School alumni and faculty, met with current students and heard an address by Law School alumnus and Woodruff Trustee Robert L. Steed. Based upon these interviews, four finalists were offered Woodruff Scholarships.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College with a major in psychology, Stewart was elected to membership in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, the President’s Honors List, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board and Golden Key honor societies. She received a National Achievement Scholarship for Outstanding Negro Students and other scholarships at USC. She was one of 124 students nationally recognized by USA Today.

"I am very proud to have been selected as a Woodruff Scholar. I have something to live up to," she said. Undecided as to her career in law, Stewart knows she wants to use her degree to help people.

A native of Kentucky and a 1997 summa cum laude graduate of Mercer University with a degree in English for which she earned departmental honors, Reeder was elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma, Order of Omega and received the Hugh Lawson III Scholarship recognizing the outstanding English student. A member of Chi Omega Sorority, in which she held several leadership roles, Reeder was also elected for three years as senator in the Student Government Association. She played intramural football and soccer.

"This is a unique opportunity, not having to worry about the financial obligations for school. I can devote more time to studying instead of having loans hanging over me," she said. Reeder said she has an interest in public service and would someday like to litigate.

David Michael Gould is a native of Titusville, Fla., and a cum laude graduate with a degree in political science from Stetson University where he received a Presidential scholarship. At Stetson, Gould served as sports editor of The Stetson Reporter, parliamentarian of the Student Government Association, member of the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee and member of the University Budget Committee. He participated in the Model Senate.

"This is a tremendous honor. It is a big responsibility to be in the first group of Woodruff Scholars. We have a responsibility to the University, which has put a lot of faith in us. Now, we must live up to it," he said.

Tereasa M. Osborne is a native of North Carolina and a summa cum laude graduate of Appalachian State University with a major in political science. Having maintained jobs requiring 15 to 30 hours per week throughout college, Osborne also volunteered for the Girl Scouts, served as vice president of the International Relations Association, participated in numerous Model United Nations events, was president of Phi Gamma Mu and remained active in her church. Her scholarship recognized her membership in both the dean’s and chancellor’s lists, the receipt of an Appalachian State University Academic Scholarship, being selected for Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges and as the Appalachian State University Outstanding Senior in political science in 1996.

"This is something to be extremely proud of. To me, the scholarship made me feel someone thinks I can make a contribution. It’s an investment in me, so I can give something back in the future," she said. "Hopefully, it will be fulfilling to both me and the legal profession."

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Willis' Goals for 2000 Include Law Degree and Gold Medal

Initial Woodruff Scholars Prepare to Return Investment

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