The Dick Williams Award honors outstanding efforts to promote mutual respect and dignity through the acceptance of ethnic, cultural, development and academic diversity in the North Thurston Public Schools as exemplified by the late Dick Williams.

 

The Award recognizes new or innovative projects or programs, leadership in the above, or continuous dedicated service. Anyone can nominate a person or program for the award, including business and community organizations, but only parents, students, volunteers, and employees of the North Thurston Public Schools can receive the award.

 

A perpetual plaque show the name of all recipients and is displayed in the North Thurston Public Schools District Office. Recipients also receive individual plaques which will be presented at a School Board Meeting.

 

Would you like to nominate someone? Download the nomination form (PDF).

 

Richard Williams was born June 9, 1935 in Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Williams attended Temple University and later finished his education at The Evergreen State College majoring in Sociology in 1976.

 

Mr. Williams served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. After the Marine Corps, Mr. Williams played professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles and later for the Los Angeles Rams in 1955. After his successful football career, he joined the Army serving four years in Vietnam. Mr. Williams retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant in 1975 receiving the Army Commendation Medal and two Bronze Stars.

 

Mr. Williams moved to Olympia in 1974 and was very active in the Thurston County community. Mr. Williams was a longtime member of the Levy and Bond Committees, President of the Nisqually Middle School PTA and active in the Lydia Hawk PTA. In addition, Mr. Williams served on the North Thurston School District Citizen Advisory Committee and Citizens for School Groups.

 

Mr. Williams diligently served as a Red Cross volunteer at Madigan Army Hospital, worked with disabled Veterans through Amvets, served on the Republican Precinct Committee, and was Chairperson of Faith Lutheran Social Ministry Committee.

 

In the mid-1980s, School Board member Thelma Jackson formed the Citizens Multicultural Advisory Council. Mr. Williams was a charter member of this council. Following his passing, the MAC decided to honor the work of Mr. Williams with a yearly commemorative award to district staff, students, and volunteers.

 

The local community still benefits from the lifetime legacy of Richard Williams in Thurston County. His wife, Tran Williams and daughters Diane and Sharon Williams, and grandson Lazarus Richard Williams survive him. Although these four immediate family member survive him, all who knew him love and respect him.

 

Richard Williams lived every day to the fullest serving his God, family, country, and his fellow man.