Barefoot Gene

EUGENE 'BAREFOOT GENE" WILLARD

'Barefoot Gene" considered by many as eccentric, anomalous, or just a character spent his life walking throughout the country, barefoot, regardless of the weather. His reasons for shunning footwear although peculiar and unusual, are unknown.
Eugene Bertram Willard was born in Chelsea August 2, 1882, the son of Charles E. and Elizabeth (Thursby) Willard. The Willard's were direct descendants of Simon Willard of Cambridge, one of the first presidents of Harvard College. Gene's early years were spent in the schools of Chelsea. Gene went on to attend Boston English High School and Gushing Academy. Gene then attended the Boston School of Theology to prepare for the ministry. He spent many years engaged in evangelistic work in the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.Upon returning to Boston, Gene entered newspaper work beginning with the Boston Journal. For eleven years he served as editor of the Everett Herald and contributed editorials to various New England papers. The Camden, New Jersey Post Telegram made Gene a Special Correspondent to Mexico in 1916, during General Pershing's hunt for Pancho Villa.
Gene became a prolific writer on a number of subjects. He made studies and wrote a series of articles on conditions in the big cities also writing a series on juvenile delinquency. During the 1930's Gene Willard wrote numerous articles for the Chelsea Record along with his many writings to the "Letters to the Editor" column.

Gene Willard was married to the former Evelyn Cox, a marriage that ended in pain and heartache for him for within one year after their marriage, Evelyn passed away.
Gene passed his last years in his home at 71 Summer Street with his pipe organ which he played very proficiently. It was here Gene suffered a stroke and was rushed to the Chelsea Memorial Hospital. A few days later on November 18, 1958, at the age of 76, "Barefoot Gene" Willard passed away. It was not uncommon to see this man, regardless of the season or the weather, walking in his bare feet. He had a personal greeting for everyone and "Gene" as he was known and greeted by everyone in return, was loved and respected by children and adult alike.

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EUGENE 'BAREFOOT GENE" WILLARD
	'Barefoot Gene" considered by many as eccentric, anomalous, or just a character spent his life walking throughout the country, barefoot, regardless of the weather. His reasons for shunning footwear although peculiar and unusual, are unknown. Eugene Bertram Willard was born in Chelsea August 2, 1882, the son of Charles E. and Elizabeth (Thursby) Willard. The Willard's were direct descendants of Simon Willard of Cambridge, one of the first presidents of Harvard College. Gene's early years were spent in the schools of Chelsea. Gene went on to attend Boston English High School and Gushing Academy. Gene then attended the Boston School of Theology to prepare for the ministry. He spent many years engaged in evangelistic work in the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.Upon returning to Boston, Gene entered newspaper work beginning with the Boston Journal. For eleven years he served as editor of the Everett Herald and contributed editorials to various New England papers. The Camden, New Jersey Post Telegram made Gene a Special Correspondent to Mexico in 1916, during General Pershing's hunt for Pancho Villa. Gene became a prolific writer on a number of subjects. He made studies and wrote a series of articles on conditions in the big cities also writing a series on juvenile delinquency. During the 1930's Gene Willard wrote numerous articles for the Chelsea Record along with his many writings to the "Letters to the Editor" column.

Gene Willard was married to the former Evelyn Cox, a marriage that ended in pain and heartache for him for within one year after their marriage, Evelyn passed away. Gene passed his last years in his home at 71 Summer Street with his pipe organ which he played very proficiently. It was here Gene suffered a stroke and was rushed to the Chelsea Memorial Hospital. A few days later on November 18, 1958, at the age of 76, "Barefoot Gene" Willard passed away. It was not uncommon to see this man, regardless of the season or the weather, walking in his bare feet. He had a personal greeting for everyone and "Gene" as he was known and greeted by everyone in return, was loved and respected by children and adult alike.