Stillman College recently unveiled the Lt. Gen. Willie J. Williams Institute for leadership, education equity and race relations in America.
Williams is one of the first three African Americans appointed to the rank of three-star general in the United States Marine Corps.
The Stillman College alumnus was chosen by Stillman’s Veterans Resource Center.
“This institute will serve as a celebrated mainstay in our region and amongst our benchmark institutions,” said DeMarcus Hopson, dean for enrollment management and executive director for military student services. “The research and programming that have been carefully tabbed, developed and prepared will dramatically challenge the status quo and mediocrity often associated with this work and will confidently awaken a generation of global leaders: This institute is revolutionary for Stillman College.”
Williams, born in Livingston, comes from humble origins and spent much of his childhood in Moundville in the 1960s.
As a child, Williams did not see the struggles of poverty in his family life but saw there was a need to work. He scrubbed toilets and cleaned the homes of white people in his community and cut grass, among other jobs, until he was of a legal age to do other things. Every job he had was a step up from his last job. As he got older, he cleaned a textile and fabric building, worked at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Hospital and picked cotton to purchase clothes and make ends meet.
“My family lived in several small towns in Alabama, but my fondest memories of my childhood is from when I lived in Moundville,” he said. “We arrived there when I was in the sixth grade and remained there through high school with two of my closest friends, who I often refer to as my brothers. We played sports, worked on cars and did other fun things together. Although one of my childhood friends is now deceased, I am still closer than ever to my other friend.”
Williams attended Moundville Public School with only 20 students in his high school graduating class.
Initially, Williams had no plans to attend college because his family was unable to afford it. Instead, he and his buddies decided they would join the Air Force. The news of their decision traveled swiftly throughout Moundville. When his teachers heard about it, they wanted to help financially.
“One of the reasons I was able to attend college is because of those great teachers,” he said. “They told me not to join the military because there was a need for intelligent honor students in the Black community and in the world. They took away my excuse for not attending college.”
With their help, Williams received a financial aid package to attend Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.
“My mother, Ella Mae Bolden, taught me strong values and great work ethics at an early age,” he said. “Mother told me I could be anything I wanted to be. I feel so privileged to have had my mother, family, teachers and those Stillman graduate students that looked after me and challenged me to be the best I could be. It took a village of people to help me obtain the finances I needed to start college.”
While attending Stillman, Williams worked his way through college. He was offered a job as a janitor. He gladly accepted the position, as he knew job titles define what you do, not who you are.
“I graduated on time with honors while working a 48-hour-week job at night and attending classes during the day,” he said. “I am also a first-generation college student.”
Williams was the first in the history of Stillman’s graduating class to have a double ceremony consisting of a military commission ceremony in conjunction with a graduation.
Prior to his graduation, Williams’ life took a major turn when he encountered the Marine Corps officer selection officer (OSO), who challenged Williams to test himself while training to become an officer. Williams wasn’t interested but decided to listen to the benefits it offered.
“As I turned to walk away, I heard one of the officers say ‘He probably couldn’t make it anyway.’ Because they knew how important it was for me to work, they offered an option that would be life-changing. If you successfully complete Marine Corps training, you can get paid a stipend while completing your degree work. I was elated at their offer and accepted the challenge.”
By then, Williams had gotten engaged and would marry within a month or so and needed a solid financial plan. The officers had made him an offer he could not refuse. He accepted the Marine Corps’ offer, trained at Officer Candidate School, graduated with honors and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1974.
Williams did not plan to stay in the Marine Corps more than three years. Afterward, he would use his degree in business administration to move on to something else.
“Later, another life-changing decision occurred,” he said. “I decided to apply for regular commission and was accepted into the program in 1976. I began to travel doing Marine Corps business and I was blessed immensely along the way.”
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Stillman College, he earned a Master of Arts in Business Administration from National University, San Diego, California, and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Resources Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, an honorary Doctorate of Law from Stillman College and an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Albany State University.
Personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with gold star in lieu of second award, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service award, the National Defense Service Medal and the Department of Defense Service Badge.
After traveling the world for nearly 40 years, Williams returned to his home state.
“I have always had such a profound love for Stillman College,” he said. “I will never forget the young Stillman College graduates who would come to the Moundville community to teach at the school and see after me, and others like me. Having the Williams Institute named in my honor is definitely special. I have received many awards and honors in my lifetime. However, being the namesake of this endeavor supersedes them all.”
Institute programs will include lectures, symposiums, brown-bag lunches, working group sessions, leadership retreats and special initiatives that will engage students, administrators, practitioners, staff members, parents, business leaders and community partners.
There will be three unique Stillman programs that support the Williams Institute objectives: The Black Male Initiative, a student development initiative focused on increasing matriculation, retention and graduation rates for males of color; the 1876 Project for community engagement; and the Alabama Troops to Teachers Program for alternative certification for veterans.
Special programs will focus on research, programming and partnerships through support from community institutions with a focus on anti-racism, diversity training, cultural understanding, conflict resolution and educational equity.
“I am excited about the work Mr. Hopson and others will do,” Williams said. “I foresee this framework being adopted by campuses across this county and I look forward to participating and leveraging my influence to move the needle in the right direction.”
Williams is far from slowing down. He is serving on boards and with community initiatives.
“I am the president-elect of the Huntsville Rotary Club,” he said. “I am committed to changing the trajectory for as many youths as I possibly can. One of the programs we have implemented is the Students Taking Renewed Interest in the Value of Education (STRIVE) mentoring program. Students are assigned an adult mentor who meets twice monthly discussing a broad range of trendy topics.”
Williams has appeared in two episodes of the popular TV show “Criminal Minds.”
He had the honor of participating in President Barrack Obama’s inauguration ceremony and worked as the point person to gain presidential approval and presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the original Montford Point Marines during a commemorative ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., June 28, 2012. The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States, was given to honor the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans allowed to enlist in the Marine Corps.
Williams resides in New Market with his wife, Bobbie Woods Williams.
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
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