Career
He was killed in a midget car accident. Willman started racing in 1926. Limited racing during the 1930s Great Depression significantly hurt Willman"s career.
Only 31 national events were held in eight years.
So Willman raced in Midwestern regional and local races. Willman had misfortune at the Indianapolis 500 with his car breaking down at all four of his races while he was doing well.
In 1941, he was running in fourth place at the 285 mile mark before a connecting rod broke. In 1938, Willman drove in relief for Harry McQuinn and finished seventh.
1941 was Willman"s most successful year.
One week before his death, Willman lapped the entire 32-car field in a 100-lap midget car event. Willman died on October 12, 1941. He was racing in a midget car heat race at Thompson International Speedway when he hit the outside wall and he rolled on to the track.
The last place car hit and killed him.
In the first two laps he had passed 16 cars in the 20 car field He was inducted in the National Sprint Carolina Hall of Fame in 1992.
He was well respected by his competitors. Tommy Hinnershitz said that Willman was the toughest driver that he competed against.
Willman was married to Lorraine and he left a son named Eugene who ended up becoming a midget car building and owner in the 1960s and 1970s.
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