Each year at the annual awards and installation banquet, the Georgia Recreation and Park Association recognizes members, both present and past, who have exhibited excellence in parks and recreation in their communities. This year, retired Douglas-Coffee County Parks & Recreation Director, Tom Williams, was inducted into the GRPA Hall of Fame in Columbus on November 7th for his tremendous service to GRPA and to his local community.
GRPA Past-President, Hall of Fame member, and long-time friend Charlie Clegge presided over the induction ceremony and began with these words, “I dare say that not many of you will know our recipient today. Some of you may only know of recipient as the chief cook and bottle washer of our wonderful Wednesday night shrimp boils and chicken dinners at conference. However, more of you from south of the gnat-line will know this person. Because you may not know our recipient does not lessen the leadership and contributions this professional colleague has made. To the credit of this recipient, the contributions were not made in order to get credit or for personal gain. They were made out of a deep dedication to our profession, this association, and to the enhancement of an improved quality of life for the citizens we all serve through recreation and park programs and facilities.”
Williams served as President of GRPA in 1969-70. Prior to that time and in the following years he served on many committees and was especially active in the early development of the athletic committee and its governing manual. Tom was among the original recreation majors who entered the field after graduating from the newly established Georgia Southern Program. He was, and is, a loyal and dedicated member of the association; his contributions and involvement were characterized by a positive attitude about what could be accomplished by the association and he worked effectively to accomplish the goals set forth by our professional organization. Besides being an active member, he served as the director of recreation and parks in Alma and Douglas. Tom retired with the City of Douglas in 1998 after serving Douglas and Coffee County for many years as the Douglas Parks & Recreation Director.
