City Council:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK
HONORING THE LEGACY AND LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT OF GUS WILLIAMS (THE“WIZARD”)
Whereas, the great City of Mount Vernon, NY, joins together to honor the legacy and lifetime achievement of GUS WILLIAMS, affectionately known as “The Wizard”; and
Whereas, GUS WILLIAMS is a native son of Mount Vernon, NY, who demonstrated exceptional basketball talent from an early age. He played high school basketball at Mount Vernon High, where he was named Player of the Year in 1971 by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Williams continued his basketball career at the University of Southern California, showcasing his skills at the collegiate level; and
Whereas the Golden State Warriors selected GUS WILLIAMS in the second round of the 1975 NBA Draft and the Spirits of St. Louis in the first round of the 1975 American Basketball Association Draft, ultimately signing with the Warriors for the 1975-76 season. In his first NBA season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, highlighting his immediate impact on professional basketball. Williams went on to build an illustrious NBA career, playing for notable teams such as the Seattle SuperSonics as a free agent, where he became a key player in leading the team to the NBA Championship in 1979, the Washington Bullets, and the Atlanta Hawks. His unbelievable speed, athleticism, and elite scoring ability earned him the nickname “The Wizard.” He completed an impressive career by achieving a career-high scoring average of 23.4 points per game. His friend of 40 years and Seattle SuperSonics teammate, James Donaldson, says, “No one will ever forget “The Wizard” and his unique way of tying his shoelaces on the back of his ankles instead of the front.” He recalls his friend by saying, “He was gregarious, funny, always upbeat, and very charitable with his time and money. He was always friendly with fans, and they loved him in return”; Now, Therefore, be it
Resolved, that the City Council joins the citizens of Mount Vernon, NY, and many friends and family to honor and celebrate the lifetime achievements and contributions of GUS WILLIAMS to the game of basketball and to acknowledge his legacy as a son of Mount Vernon, who continues to be an inspiration to the future generations.