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September 4, 2007

TVCC’s Ray Williams dies at 58

By Jennifer Hannigan

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.

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