Thomas E. "Shorty" McWilliams (1970) - Hall of Fame

Thomas E. "Shorty" McWilliams

Induction:
1970
Class:
1948

Thomas McWilliams, better known by “Shorty”, played football for four seasons at Mississippi State beginning in 1944, and then from 1946-1948. A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Mc Williams became the first player in Southeastern Conference history to be named First Team All-SEC in all four seasons at Mississippi State.

In his first season at Mississippi State, McWilliams earned second-team AP All-American Honors. He finished the season 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting, the first Bulldog to ever finish the voting in the top 10 and only one of two to this date.

A year later, McWilliams enlisted and would play a season at Army. That 1945 team finished the season as National Champions. He later decided that the military life would not be for him, as he ultimately returned to Mississippi State.

McWilliams remains in the record book in numerous categories. He collected four punt return touchdowns across his career at Mississippi State, a record that stands today. He also holds the fourth-longest punt in program history, booming a 78 yarder against Arkansas A&M on Oct. 14, 1944.

Following his college career, McWilliams played two seasons at the professional level, one with the Los Angeles Dons of the AFL and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. After retiring from football, he owned a restaurant in his hometown of Meridian, known as Weidmann’s.

McWilliams was inducted to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1963 and the MSU Ring of Honor in 2014.