The native of Nacogdoches, Texas, stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88 kg).

Willis was selected by Cleveland in the 1946 Rule 5 draft after he won 18 of 25 decisions with a sparkling 2.37 earned run average for the Memphis Chickasaws of the Double-A Southern Association.

On July 6, in the first game of a doubleheader, he worked six innings against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

[1] Then, on July 12, in the second game of a twin bill, Willis lasted 4⅔ innings in a home start against the Philadelphia Athletics and was not as effective, again surrendering eight hits but yielding four runs, all earned.

Willis left the game tied 4–4, although his reliever, Ed Klieman, picked up the Cleveland win with 4⅓ innings of scoreless pitching.