Reverend Livingston Wills: Omaha’s Beloved “Broom Man”
Reverend Livingston Wills
Legacy Maker | Omaha’s Beloved Broomman
Story by Aniya Porter
Reverend Livingston Wills (1916–2008) spent more than six decades walking the streets of Omaha, a bundle of brooms across his shoulders, dressed in a suit and brimmed hat, becoming one of the city’s most recognizable and enduring figures. Blind from birth, Wills navigated downtown and surrounding neighborhoods independently, memorizing routes and storefronts long before modern accessibility protections were in place.
Known simply as “The Broom Man,” Wills supported himself by selling brooms door-to-door. Residents often purchased them not only for their utility, but out of admiration and respect for the man who sold them. His steady presence made him a fixture of Omaha’s civic life, particularly in the downtown corridor.
Beyond his business, Willis served as pastor of Tabernacle Church of Christ Holiness, where he ministered to his congregation and preached faith, perseverance, and dignity. His ministry and his daily walks became intertwined expressions of service, one spiritual, one practical.
Residents often recall hearing him before seeing him, the steady tap of his cane, the gentle greeting delivered with warmth and certainty. He did not ask for sympathy; he offered conversation.
After his passing in 2008, community members began efforts to permanently honor his legacy. A bronze statue created by Omaha sculptor John Lajba is scheduled for installation in Turner Park at Midtown Crossing in spring 2026, following a decade-long fundraising and planning effort. The memorial recognizes Willis not only as a businessman or minister, but as a living symbol of resilience and independence.
He reminded Omaha that dignity requires no spectacle, that faith can be carried quietly, and that the measure of a life is not how loudly it is seen, but how deeply it is felt.
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