Washington Redskins fanatic and unofficial mascot Zema Williams, better known as Chief Zee, passed away Tuesday. He was 75.
Zema Williams was the most dedicated, diehard Redskins fan the team might ever see.
Chief Zee sported an Indian headdress with Redskins themed colors and carried a toy tomahawk. He appeared at his first Redskins game outfitted as Chief Zee on Oct. 2, 1978, against Washington’s rival team the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 9-5 that Monday night.
The team announced, “The Washington Redskins will always appreciate Zema Williams’ unique passion and dedication to our football team and his fellow Washington Redskins’ fans.”
Williams, served as the Redskins’ unofficial mascot for almost 40 years.
The Washington Post interviewed Zema Williams in 2013:
Williams claimed he had missed only four Redskins home games, all because of funerals, including the one following the death of his father in 1981. Williams also missed Washington’s season opener against Miami in 2007 to be at Texas Stadium for a pregame ceremony honoring Cowboys superfan Wilford “Crazy Ray” Jones, who died earlier that year. Williams traveled to Texas for Dallas Week in 28 of the first 29 years after he created the Chief Zee alter ego, primarily because of the friendship he formed with Crazy Ray, who missed only three Cowboys home games in 46 seasons.
The presence of Chief Zee will be sincerely missed at all Redskins games this upcoming season.