East Lansing Says Goodbye To Fellow Spartan, “Willie the Can Man”

Sad news out of East Lansing.

According to the Lansing State Journal, Wilson Brown, aka "Willie the Can Man", passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. Willie was well known throughout East Lansing and to many fellow Spartans. If you've ever been to an MSU tailgate or at a house party in East Lansing, you've probably seen him around.

For about the last 20 years, Willie could be seen doing tasks around East Lansing for cash or cans, or collecting bottles and cans to return. Willie even sold t-shirts to make cash. Custom t-shirt shop Retro Duck printed shirts with funny slogans like "Don't be silly, give your cans to Willie", and would give them to Willie in exchange to for a ad spot on them.

Luke Hackney, president of Retro Duck, remembers Willie being "pretty funny, loud and boisterous and opinionated." And according to Willie's ex-wife, Sheleatha Davis-Brown, he was the type of person who "would give his last to anybody." To read more about Willie the Can Man, click HERE.