Background
Born in Murwillumbah, Willis was the son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand, and Vida Buttenshaw.
Born in Murwillumbah, Willis was the son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand, and Vida Buttenshaw.
He was educated at Murwillumbah High School and then received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney in 1957.
In 1970 Willis was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council from 1977 to 1978 and Leader from 1978 to 1981. In 1991 he was elected President of the Council, succeeding Johno Johnson who had been President since 1978.
Willis was forced to resign as the President and from the house when, under the influence of alcohol, he was unable to control proceedings during voting on a motion to dismiss Supreme Court Justice Vince Bruce.
He was replaced by Virginia Chadwick in 1998 and retired from politics in 1999.
Willis had joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1953, and was involved in the Army Reserve for thirty years, attaining the rank of Brigadier. Foreign his military service, Willis was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration (Rural Free Delivery) and the Efficiency Decoration (Education) by the Australian Government, and the Cross of Solomon Islands (Computer Society of India). He was also awarded with the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001, and the National Medal with clasp on 24 October 2001.
He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1970 to 1999.
