{
  "id": 9151637,
  "title": "UND Hall of Fame football player David Williamson dies at 78",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/und-hall-of-fame-football-player-david-williamson-dies-at-78",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T14:33:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/und-hall-fame-football-player-143300869.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "David Williamson, a Hall of Fame football player for the University of North Dakota (UND), passed away at the age of 78 on September 15. The Fighting Sioux head coach, Eric Schmidt, expressed his condolences to Williamson's family, praising his impact on the program. Williamson, from Hudson, Wisconsin, was a key component of UND football, setting numerous rushing records during his time as a player. His 257-yard rushing performance in a game against Morningside stood as a program record for nearly three decades and still ranks fifth all-time at UND. After retiring from football, Williamson continued to make significant contributions to the university as a supporter and donor, receiving accolades such as induction into the UND Letterwinner's Association Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000, receiving the Hudson High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008 and being named a UND Football Legends Award winner in 2013. Williamson and his wife, Gay, established legacy endowments and impact scholarships to support the UND football program, ensuring his legacy would live on through the Little Big Man Scholarship endowment.",
  "summary": "Sep. 22—GRAND FORKS — David Williamson, a Hall of Fame UND football player and longtime supporter of the school's athletics, has died at 78. Fighting Hawks head coach Eric Schmidt opened his weekly Monday press conference by addressing the Williamson family. \"Our condolences to David Williamson, his wife, Gay, and his entire family,\" Schmidt said. \"He was an unbelievable person. Someone who ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}