Chief Zee
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Zema Williams (July 7, 1941 – July 19, 2016), better known as Chief Zee, was a well-known fan and unofficial mascot of the franchise then known as the Washington Redskins. Dressed in a faux Native American war bonnet, rimmed glasses, and red jacket, Chief Zee began attending Redskins games in 1978.
History
Born in Colquitt, Georgia on July 7, 1941,[1] Williams worked as a sharecropper and picked cotton as a youth. He later drove a truck, when he got a draft notice in 1960. Two years later, he completed his military service at Fort Riley, and returned to driving trucks. By 1968, he was a car salesman in Washington, D.C.[2]
Williams first showed up in costume at RFK Stadium on September 10, 1978.[3] In 1983, Chief Zee attended a game against the Eagles at Veterans Stadium. Following their team's 10-point loss to the Redskins,[4] he was attacked, suffering a broken arm, leg and ribs as well as a torn original costume, leaving him hospitalized.[5] He returned the next year to Philadelphia but after a woman threw a beer in his face, it was his last time.[6]
On August 9, 2008, Williams set down his signature prop, a toy tomahawk, while he was signing autographs at the Redskins' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. When he turned to retrieve it, it was gone. The 12-inch tomahawk had a slender wooden handle with a rubber blade, and appears in many photos of Williams since he started attending Redskins games over 30 years prior.[7] By August 28, 2008, Chief Zee's tomahawk was returned to him with the help of Redskins tight end Chris Cooley who got a call from someone that said they had it. He swapped a signed jersey for the tomahawk.[8]
In his later years, Williams lived on Social Security and had difficulty walking. Daniel Snyder, the former owner of the Redskins, purchased the scooter that he used. Williams also faced eviction due to not being able to keep up with his rent, but several fans used a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough to pay both back rent and enough ahead that the situation would not arise again.[9]
Williams died in his sleep on July 19, 2016, 12 days after his 75th birthday.[10]
Honors
- November 7, 1985, was declared "Chief Zee Day" in Washington, D.C.
- In 2000, Visa and the Pro Football Hall of Fame selected the biggest fan of each of the then-31 teams and placed them in an exhibit in Canton. He was the fan chosen for the Washington Redskins.
Controversy
Some people consider Williams' portrayal of American Indians to have been offensive.[11][12] His use of a stylized headdress was often referenced as the reason for offense, as the headdress is a sacred, central cultural item for many tribes.[13]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Redskins Fans Pay Respects To Zema Williams At Funeral Service". Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wise, Mike (September 3, 2013). "Chief Zee's time as Redskins' unofficial mascot is nearly over". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
- ^ "Super-Fan Chief Zee's Heartfelt Comfort to the Enemy". Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Washington-Philadelphia". Database Football.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Redskins fan sidelined". washingtontimes.com. July 17, 2006. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McKenna, Dave. "Chief Zee, Washington's Naive, Aggressively Racist Mascot, Is Dead". Deadspin. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Marissa Newhall - Names & Faces". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ Tomahawk returned [dead link]
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Terl, Matt (April 21, 2016). "Unobstructed View: Pigskins Fans Lend a Hand to the Man Behind Chief Zee". The Washington City Paper.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Stabley, Matthew (July 19, 2016). "Redskins Superfan Chief Zee Has Died". NBC Washington. NBC News. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How Chief Zee Could Change the History of Washington Football". Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Milloy, Courtland (October 21, 2009). "On the sidelines, the sad symbol of a sorry tradition". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Law Enforcement Repatriates Eagle Feather War Bonnet to Standing Rock Sioux". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. November 4, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
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