European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 2, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Al common Guy doing something uncommon Willig i just wanted the prize of the first by Peter Mackleit United press International in pretty much an Ordinary said George and maybe people like to see a common Guy do something it was last thursday when Willig first squinted into the Cloud less gathered his 120foot Nylon rope and homemade climbing gear and began his ascent up the South Tower of the world Trade Center in new the worlds second tallest some 32 hours and 110 stories the bearded 27yearold toy designer from new York was the country latest Folk hero its most famous climber since King the usually impassive new York press corps gave him thunderous applause at a Day after news conference and plunged into the hordes of Well wishers pumping his blistered hands and seeking his the human Fly was grabbed by nearly every television talk show in town and treated to dinner by the Trade centers posh i07lh floor i cant imag Ine anybody better to be said the restaurants the fire department said it was interested in looking at his equipment and even mayor Abraham be am got into the settling a lawsuit slapped on Willig by a City lawyer for 10 a Penny for each Story he criminal charges against Willig were expected to be and through it the soft spoken Willig maintained the coolness he displayed during his electrifying ascent up the towers sheer face a feat he later shrugged off As like climbing a if in so its because this is an he said of his inst Aiu its not As exciting As the climb Willig downplayed comparisons to dare devils of generations past but he gave the time honoured reply when asked Why he did because it was at least one person among the thousands who watched the climb knew what Willig was going through Phillipe the diminutive Frenchman who walked a tight rope Between the twin towers in i saw him climbing and i immediately knew what kind of Muy he said he was he was he was quite professional in his wiling said he Hadi t Given any thought to whats next but added Hes received a flood of offers All kinds of 1 guess people get exit for the 5footll whose interests Range from ornamental horticulture to film the Trade Center exploit was the highlight of a climbing career he began in Earnest Only four years he was completely committed to said Mike a Friend since child wed ask him to a party and hed say hed rather go at hed shimmy up Between two columns of a it was a Good Way to get into the girls Willig said he got the idea to climb an artificial Structure last but Why the world Trade Center because its consid ered by some to be an ugly but its very appealing just by the fact its two he said he immediately went to work de signing special devices to fit into the half Inch wide tracks which extend the entire length of the Trade Center towers and serve As guides but not supports for window thousands of new yorkers Bent their necks to follow Amateur Poge 14 the stars and stripes