Local News
Related Photos
Tools
TVCC’s Ray Williams dies at 58
Trinity Valley Community College is mourning the loss of one of its longtime employees. Ray Williams, vice president for instruction, died Friday morning in Tyler of complications related to cardiovascular surgery.
Williams had worked at the college for more than three decades. He began his career with TVCC (then Henderson County Junior College) in 1973 as a speech instructor and director of speech activities.
After seven years at the college, he was promoted to chair of the Fine Arts Division and in 1988 he became the dean of academic education. Williams became the vice president for instruction in July of 2006, when he replaced retiring Vice President Jan Huffstutler.
“To say that Ray was a wonderful man doesn’t even come close. His smile, his enthusiasm, his affection for each and every employee here were all what made him a wonderful coworker and a cherished friend,” said Jennifer Hannigan, TVCC public information officer. “He will be very sorely missed by every person here.”
Before coming to the college, Williams – a native of the Leagueville community near Brownsboro – taught English and speech at Brownsboro High School.
Williams graduated from Henderson County Junior College (now TVCC) in 1969. He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in speech communication.
“I’ve worked with Ray for thirty-three years at TVCC. I consider him a very, very close friend,” said Jerry King, assistant vice president for workforce education and business relations. “Ray was a real people person who is going to be missed by everyone. He is the type of person who everybody liked.
“The college has lost someone that we are not going to be able to replace. Someone else may be in his office, but he is irreplaceable.”
Williams was involved in numerous community and academic organizations. He was co-chair of the undergraduate education advisory committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a past president of the Texas Junior College Speech and Theatre Association. He was a board member for the Texas Community College Instructional Administrators Association.
In local organizations, Williams was a member and past president of the Athens Noon Kiwanis Club and the Henderson County Arts Council. He was also on the board of directors for Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative.
He was a member of Leagueville Baptist Church, where he played the piano.
Williams is survived by wife, Barbara; son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Danielle (Dossett) Williams; and two grandchildren, Brendon and Trinity.
- Local News
-
-
Fund set up for construction accident victim
Funeral services were held Monday for A 2001 LaPoynor High School graduate who died in a construction accident in Palestine last week.
-
AEDC board approves two performance agreements
The Athens Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved two performance agreements on Thursday.
The proposed agreements with Abby Development and the Athens Jet Center are very similar, said AEDC President/CEO Brian Malone.
He said the agreement with Abby Development provides a maximum incentive of $75,000 for infrastructure. -
Local historic treasure recovered
Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 recovered tokens from its past — both large and small — from a building it had once called its own.
Lodge Secretary Randy Daniel, who is Athens’ mayor, said members retrieved two time capsules last Saturday with the permission of the Ginger Murchison Foundation, the current owner of the building.
The lodge, he said, met on that corner, the southwest corner of the Henderson County Courthouse square, for about 75 years. -
Eustace FFA does well in Fort Worth, San Antonio
The Eustace FFA Show teams have been very busy since the beginning of the year with competitions at two major stock shows.
-
Church News
Church News will run as items are received, based on available space. Items running in Church News will not be published in the Community Calendar.
-
Tenth grade poetry
Athens Christian Preparatory makes writing a priority. Tenth grade students who had poems chosen for national publication are shown.
-
Community Calendar
Community Calendar runs daily in the Review.
-
On the right track
Eustace’s Justin Bersterman takes a handoff from Austin White as they practice their relay before the Athens High School Track Meet.
-
Chamber optimistic about 2010
The Athens Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are working to make 2010 a big year, according to Chamber Chairman Michael “Mo” Morrison.
-
Scholarship available through HCRSPA
If your senior son or daughter plans to attend a college or university in the summer and/or fall, and pursue a program in which he or she will receive teacher certification, a major in education or a teaching degree in a subject area with teacher certification, then this scholarship is for you.
- More Local News Headlines
-
