Former Husky football player Curtis Williams dead at 24
Williams was believed to have died of system failure, said Jim Daves, UW spokesman.
Williams, who turned 24 on Saturday, visited Seattle for the first time since his injury the last week in April, attending the spring game at Husky Stadium, and attending a fund-raising event for his long-term care. He also delivered the first pitch by wheelchair at a Mariners game at Safeco Field.
“His situation was very sensitive,’’ Daves said. “His temperature would rise and drop rapidly, and he was almost unable to come back here in April.’’
Daves said Williams did not have any difficulty while in Seattle. He returned to Fresno April 28.
In June, Williams had a device implanted in his chest to stimulate his diaphragm, which allowed him to breathe without a respirator. Williams was breathing on his own for 12 hours per day.
A Curtis Williams Fund was formed last year to pay for his care, and had raised more than $300,000.
Williams is survived by a 7-year-old daughter, Kymberly, who lives in Anchorage with her mother, Michelle.
Williams, who played safety for the UW, was injured in a helmet-to-helmet collision in a game against Stanford. He had spinal-cord surgery and was left with no voluntary muscle movement.
The Huskies dedicated their victory over Purdue in the Rose Bowl in January 2001 to Williams, wearing his initials on their jerseys. Williams attended the game.
He was discharged in February of 2001 from the Santa Clara (Calif.) Medical Center in San Jose, where he had undergone rehabilitation therapy. He had been living with his older brother, David, in Fresno where he was under 24-hour care.
While in Seattle, he said he wanted to return to school at the University of Washington. He had just six classes to go to reach a degree in American Ethnic Studies. He had hoped to take correspondence courses and complete the work in about a year.