JACKSON - Canadian Football League legend Henry "Gizmo" Williams added another honor to his storied legacy, as the former Northwest football alumnus was formally inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening.

Williams, a native of Tunica, spent two seasons with Northwest from 1981-82, helping the Rangers to the 1982 NJCAA Championship, the first national title in program history. He was named first team All-American that season when he caught 14 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Williams was named to the JUCO National All-Star team and also excelled in track at Northwest, setting a state record in 1982 in the 220-yard dash.

After Northwest, Williams continued his athletic and academic career at East Carolina University, where became one of the best kick returners in program history. Following ECU, he was selected as a first-round draft pick by the Memphis Showboats of the former United States Football League in 1985. While playing in Memphis, future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Reggie White gave Williams the nickname "Gizmo", which would stick with him through his professional football career.

Following the 1985 season, Williams signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, where he spent the majority of his professional career. Aside from one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1989, Williams played for the Eskimos every year from 1987-2000, earning seven CFL West All-Star nods and five CFL All-Star selections.

During his time in Edmonton, Williams helped the franchise to a pair of Grey Cup championships in 1987 and 1993, while shattering countless records. In 149 regular season games, he returned 26 punts for touchdowns, including five in one season, to set CFL records. He also returned three kickoffs and two field goals for touchdowns, added 21 touchdown passes as a receiver and another on a running play. Undersized and speedy, he often punctuated his touchdowns with end zone back flips.

At the time of his retirement in 2000, Williams was the CFL's all-time leader in punt returns (1,003), punt return yards (11,177), kickoff returns (335) and kickoff return yards (7,354). He amassed 23,927 all-purpose yards in his career. Williams made 14 postseason appearances, playing in 22 playoff games and five Grey Cup games. In the 1987 Grey Cup game, he set a record by returning a missed field goal 115 yards for a touchdown.

In 2002, Williams was enshrined to the Edmonton Eskimos' Wall of Honour and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in September 2006. Additionally, he was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players of all-time by The Sports Network, checking in at No. 25. 

Williams was also inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame in the spring of 1997 and to the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

Today, Williams is a motivational speaker in the Canadian province of Alberta, speaking to various colleges and corporations. He has become a successful personal trainer in the Edmonton area.