Tim Willis

Tim Willis, Esq. (born Henry T. Willis), is an American blind Paralympic athlete, attorney, and disability rights advocate.^[1]

Willis grew up in Georgia and lost his sight by age 10 due to Coats' disease.^[2] He became the first fully blind athlete to compete in NCAA Division I cross-country running at Georgia Southern University,^[3] graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Political science and a minor in Criminal justice.^[4]

He earned a Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law in 2000,^[5] completed a Management Concepts Certificate – Pass-through Track – in 2013, and has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 2000.

Willis represented the United States in three Paralympic Games, winning five medals: a silver (10,000 m) and three bronzes (1,500 m, 5,000 m, 4×400 m relay) at the Atlanta 1996 Games, and a bronze (10,000 m) at the Sydney 2000 Games.^[2] He also earned gold (10,000 m), silver (5,000 m), and bronze (1,500 m) at the 1994 World Championships in Berlin.

Willis held the T11 10,000 m world record from 1995 to 2002,^[6] and was the first male athlete with a disability to be named the USOPC’s Athlete of the Month in 1995.^[7]

In 1994, Willis was selected to jog with President Bill Clinton before the Lillehammer Games and carried the Olympic torch in Oslo and Stone Mountain in 1994 and 1996 respectively.^[8]

At the 1998 World Championships in Madrid, he won two silver medals. At the 2000 Paralympics, he earned a bronze in the 10,000 m and received news that he had passed the Georgia Bar Exam.

After retiring from athletics, Willis passed the Georgia Bar and launched the Law Office of Tim Willis, focusing on:

• Disability law: ADA compliance, accessibility, and civil rights for individuals with disabilities.
• Personal injury: Representation in injury and liability cases.
• Estate planning: Wills, trusts, and asset protection.^[9]

From 2008–2014, he worked with the USOPC, managing federal grant programs, leading compliance training, and supporting veteran initiatives.^[10]

Since 2014, he has worked as a consultant advising nonprofits and businesses on ADA policy and federal grant compliance.

Willis has held several leadership and advisory roles:

• President, Touch the Future, Inc. (2006–2013)
• Board Member, BlazeSports America (2007–2016)
• Athlete Ombudsman, 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team
• Attorney & Conference Committee Member, Touch the Future (2000–2013)
• Appointee, Georgia Statewide Rehabilitation Council (1998–2007)
• Member, USOPC Athletic Technical Committee (1999–2002)
• Advisory Board, Youth Leadership Forum (2000–2002)

He has delivered keynotes and talks at:

• Georgia Southern University (Commencement, Fall 2003)
• Mercer University School of Law – ADA & the Internet
• Georgia ADA Exchange – Transit and disability (2003), PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin case (2001)
• Touch the Future Conference – Accessibility panel (2001)

• Dean’s Distinguished Service Award, Mercer Law (2000)
• Cabrini Medal of Honor (1996)
• Georgia’s Blind Person of the Year (1992)
• Eagle Scout (1988)
• Numerous academic and leadership awards at Georgia Southern University

• Inducted into Georgia Southern University Athletic Hall of Fame (2006)
• World Record, T11 10,000 m (1995–2002)
• USABA Male Athlete of the Year (1996); Hall of Fame Inductee (2020)
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Award (1995)
• Olympic and Paralympic torchbearer (1994, 1996)
• Ran with President Bill Clinton (1994)
• Finalist: James E. Sullivan Award and USOPC Male Athlete of the Year

• 1994 World Championships (Berlin): Gold (10,000 m), Silver (5,000 m), Bronze (1,500 m)
• 1996 Paralympics (Atlanta): Silver (10,000 m), 3×Bronze (1,500 m, 5,000 m, 4×400 m relay)
• 1998 World Championships (Madrid): Two Silver medals
• 2000 Paralympics (Sydney): Bronze (10,000 m)
• 1992 Paralympics (Barcelona): 4th (1,500 m), 5th (5,000 m)
• 1990 World Championships (Assen): Bronze (4×400 m relay)

Willis resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he practices law and advocates for disability rights.

• Georgia Southern University Hall of Fame – Tim Willis
• USABA Hall of Fame profile – Tim Willis