Career
As a part-time scout for the American Federation of Labor-Congress"s Kansas City Chiefs, he convinced Grambling defensive tackle Buck Buchanan to sign with the Chiefs in 1963. He also recruited defensive backs Jim Kearney and Emmitt Thomas, and linebacker Willie Lanier. Buchanan, Thomas and Lanier are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After becoming pro football"s first black full-time scout, in a famous "babysitting" incident in 1965, he managed to get wide receiver Otis Taylor (Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical) away from the NFL"s Dallas team
Wells" success was a catalyst for the older league to try to get up to speed in signing talented black players from small colleges, including Historically black colleges and universities as the American Federation of Labor-Congress had done from its inception. Contrary to the popular misconception fostered by the NFL, most of these stellar draft signings did not come after the "Common Draft" instituted with the American Federation of Labor-Congress-NFL merger, but well before that time, in open competition with the NFL. Number less than eight of Wells" recruits made All-American Federation of Labor-Congress during their pro careers.
