Dr. I.E. Willis Jr., a Longview podiatrist and civic leader, departed this earthly life on Monday, October 17, 2011. He was born in Selma, Alabama, to the late Isaac Eugene Willis and the late Rosetta Gordon Willis.
After graduating from high school in Selma, he enrolled in Knoxville College in Tennessee; there he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Afterwards, he was accepted as a student at the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, where he earned a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. While in Chicago, he was a member of the Interfraternal Council, Gamma Sigma Tau, serving as president. After graduation, he discovered a need for podiatrists in northeast Texas; he then moved to Longview, Texas, in 1957.
Since starting his practice, Dr. Willis devoted much time to professional associations and civic activities. He was a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Texas Podiatric Medical Association and was a charter member of the National Podiatric Medical Association (a group formed to recruit students into podiatry). He was vice president of the East Texas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the American Public Health Association.
Texas Governor John Connally appointed him to the prestigious six-member State Board of Podiatry Examiners, an appointment reconfirmed by Governor Dolph Briscoe. Dr. Willis served two terms (18 years); during his second term, he served as president of the board.
The Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Beaver for his 18 years of continuous work with the organization, and he has served as Scoutmaster, explorer advisor and chairman of the Cubbing Round Table. Dr. Willis was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and was a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
He was a member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce (now the Longview Partnership) and also had served as a member of the Chamber's board of directors; he was also appointed by the Longview City Council to the Longview Economic Development Corporation.
Dr. Willis had served many years on the trustee board of Texas College in Tyler, Texas. During his term on the trustee board, Dr. Willis served under the leadership of four CME Bishops (C.D.Coleman, Marshall Gilmore, Ronald Cunningham and Henry Williamson). He served as a member of the board of directors of the Hospital Authority and the Good Shepherd Foundation Board. He lectured annually for Diabetes Awareness and the National Kidney Foundation.
Other organizations on which Dr. Willis served as a board of director member includes: Greater Longview United Fund, the Longview Parents League, the Longview Planning and Zoning Board, the Piney Woods Chapter of the American Red Cross (where he served as treasurer of the executive committee), the Constitution Revision Committee, Gregg County Juvenile Committee and the East Texas Council of Governments.
Dr. Willis was a man whose deep faith in God shined through his daily life. He was a member of St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, having served on the steward board and the trustee board (where he served as chairman during construction of the church building on Sapphire). He served as director of the Board of Evangelism and superintendent of Sunday school (as well as being a Sunday school teacher).
"I have always felt the most important moment in any man's life to be that moment when he realizes his human limitations and God's omnipotence and responds with total love and trust to the infinite Maker," Dr. Willis said.
"God's law supercedes man's law, and that higher law must always be followed whatever the consequences.
"We must recognize each day's opportunities and accept their challenges. Accepting challenges forces us to grow as human beings. Each person has as a birthright the option and ability to live life ever more fully."
Dr. Willis married the former Lizzie L. Jones.
Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in Longview. Burial will be in Lakeview Memorial Gardens under the direction of Stanmore Funeral Home.

Full obituary published in Longview News-Journal on October 20, 2011