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Williams honored for service to Franklin County School System

Over the past three decades, both as a teacher and an administrator, Gary Williams has spent his life working to provide both students and faculty members of the Franklin County School System with the best possible learning environment.

This past Sunday afternoon, numerous friends and family, along with current and former co-workers of Williams, gathered at the A.W. Todd Center in downtown Russellville to honor his career at a retirement reception. 

Williams’ educational career began in 1980 when he received his first teaching job at Belgreen High School. Williams went on to teach at both Belgreen and Tharptown, which was just a junior high school at the time, spending half a day at each school.

In addition to teaching, Williams also began a distinguished basketball coaching career at Belgreen in the late 1980s before moving on to teach and coach at Phil Campbell High School, where he would also serve as assistant principal.
After serving as assistant principal at Phil Campbell, Williams worked in the Franklin County Central Office. He served as assistant superintendent and then was later elected to the position of superintendent of the Franklin County School System.

Williams hopes he has left a lasting impact during his time with Franklin County Schools.

“I have done numerous things over the course of my career that I’m very proud of, but the one thing I am most proud of is the impact I hope I have left on both the students and faculty members I have worked with,” Williams said. “I hope that everyone has been treated fair and equal over the course of my career, and I also hope I have been able to provide the best opportunities for everyone in our educational system.”

Williams also said the party that his family and colleagues put together in his honor on Sunday meant a lot and is something he will cherish for the rest of his life.

“There are people here that I have known for a long time, and for them to come out and show their appreciation, that means the world to both my wife and me,” Williams said. “It’s bittersweet. I love what I have been doing, and I have been honored to work with some of the most amazing people, but everything has to come to an end.”

There have been numerous people throughout the course of Williams’ career that have helped him achieve his goals, and he expressed his heartfelt gratitude for those people, including his wife Bonnie.

“My wife has been there for me from day one,” he said. “We’ve been through some tough times, and we’ve been through some great times. But without her I’m not sure I would’ve been able to get through those tough times, and I am blessed to have her.

“Donald Borden, who has been my assistant superintendent during my time in office, has done so much for me and even more for the school system. A lot of people don’t realize just how much he has done for the school system, the unpaid things he has volunteered to do to better the school system, and I am grateful for him and everything he has done.”

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