Robert Eugene McWillie (Gene) was born at Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada, and lived for a short time at Watson, Sask., before moving to Saskatoon with his parents. He is the son of Robert McWillie the author that's found in this web site. He received his education at the Saskatoon Public & high schools and then attended classes at the Saskatoon Technical school  and the University of Saskatoon university where he studied chemistry. He took employment with the Water Depatment for the City of Saskatoon  where he eventually became Manager of the city's Pollution Control plant. It was while attending Thornton public school that he first took an interest in playing soft-ball, first as a center fielder, then as a pitcher.

He not only became an excellant student, but his feats as a fastball pitcher can now be found in sport records in many locations throughout North America or the world wherever  that game was played.  He has pitched so many perfect games, no hitters, and one hitters that no one can come up with the exact total figure.  He consistently contributed to winning big games at tournaments and provincial and world championships while piling up victories in local league competition. His playing period stretched from the late 1950s until early 1980s.  Starting with a local Thornton school district team coached by his father, then to  "The Texico Chiefs", and then moving up to the Saskatoon Merchants. It was while playing at the senior level that he was picked up by the Weyburn Canadians in 1987 where the team  went on to win the Canadian Fastball Championship. That team was later enshrined in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.  Locally, he performed for the Merchants, Molsons, Rempel Brothers, the Jacks of the old Western Canada Major Fastball League, and the Automatic A's out of Saskatoon.

 

He not only played in an untold number of tournaments locally but appeared in Canadian  and world Championships and other international tournaments as well as earning a gold medal at the Pan-American Games.   By special invitation he has traveled to such places as Japan, NewZealand and other places to demostrate his skills and sportsmanship.  Bob Sawatzky a former coach believes the name "McWillie" is synomymous with quality fastball far beyond Saskatoon.  Gene is one of the key individuals responsible for making Saskatoon a hotbed for softball in Canada.  Another coach, John Reddekopp, remarked that Gene not only created a lot more interest in the game but also was an inspiration to a lot of younger players who tried to follow in his footsteps.   

 

 

In 1985 he was named Saskatoon's Athlete of the year.
He was inducted into the City of Saskatoon Hall of Fame in 1985.
In 1986 he was inducted into the Provincial Saskatchewan Hall of Fame.
In 1986 he was honored by his many friends by a "Gene McWillie Day" at a Fastball tournament held in Saskatoon.
He has been inducted into the World Fastball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, USA.
In 1998 he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
He has had a street named after him in the city of Saskatoon.
When asked to look at his sports career and his accomplishments over the years, Gene merely states what he has tried to do: "I feel that I've done my best that I can and am very fulfilled and happy with all the ball I've played and that includes my public school days. I've always felt I've given 100 per-cent and that's all there is that I can give to the game."