Deweyville Independent School District is proud to announce Larry Williams, a 1963 graduate of Deweyville High School, as the district’s inaugural Distinguished Alumnus. The recognition celebrates a man whose life has been defined by service to his school, his church, and the community he has called home for more than eight decades.
Born August 18, 1945, Williams is a lifelong resident of Deweyville. After graduating from Deweyville High School in 1963 as valedictorian, he continued his education at Lamar State College of Technology, graduating in 1967 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in History. He later earned a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from McNeese State University and completed additional certification work at Texas A&I University in Kingsville.
Williams began his career in education during the 1967–1968 school year at Vidor Junior High School, teaching sixth-grade science. The following year, he returned home to Deweyville ISD, beginning a career with the district that would span more than three decades before his retirement in 2004.
During his years at Deweyville ISD, Williams served in numerous capacities. He was one of the district’s first three football coaches, coached baseball to three regional playoff appearances, and served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach. In the classroom, he primarily taught History and Government, along with some Science. He also taught Driver Education for approximately 20 years and even drove a school bus from 1978 to 1990.
From 1990 to 1994, Williams served as principal of Deweyville High School. He eventually returned to the classroom, finishing his career at Deweyville Middle School teaching sixth-grade World History and seventh-grade Texas History.
His involvement with students extended well beyond the classroom. Williams also served as senior class sponsor for more proms than he can remember, another example of the many ways he invested his time in the young people of Deweyville.
While his contributions to education alone would make him deserving of recognition, Williams’s service to his community tells an even larger story.
A longtime member of Hartburg Baptist Church, Williams has taught Sunday School for 65 years and has served in music ministry for the same length of time. He continues to serve his church as a deacon. His commitment to serving others also included participation in the church’s food distribution ministry from 2004 to 2019.
Williams spent approximately five years as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, served as a member of the Lions Club until the local organization ceased operations, and dedicated approximately 20 years to the Community Water Board.
Even today, at 81 years old, Williams remains actively involved in efforts to preserve the history of Deweyville, particularly the community’s annual Saw Mill Days celebration. His desire to document and preserve the stories of the community reflects a lifelong commitment to ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate the place they call home.
Perhaps most remarkable about Williams is his humility. When discussing his selection as Deweyville ISD’s first Distinguished Alumnus, he repeatedly expressed that he believed there were many others more deserving of the recognition. Rather than focusing on his own accomplishments, he spoke of how honored he was simply to be considered.
That humility makes the recognition all the more meaningful. Over the course of his life, Williams has served as a teacher, coach, principal, mentor, church leader, and community volunteer. In each of those roles, he has helped shape the lives of others, often without seeking recognition for himself.
Behind his many years of service is his family. Williams and his wife, Julia, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Together they have two children, Rodney and Angela, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
At an age when many people might be content to reflect on a lifetime of accomplishments, Williams continues to look ahead. At 81, he still has goals he hopes to accomplish, including his ongoing efforts to preserve the history of his hometown. It is a reminder that a life of purpose and service does not end with retirement or with reaching a particular age.
Near the conclusion of his biographical notes, Williams included a passage from the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 that perhaps best summarizes how he has approached his life:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
For Deweyville ISD, the Distinguished Alumni recognition is intended to honor graduates whose lives and accomplishments reflect positively on the district and serve as an example for future generations of Pirates.
In Larry Williams, the district has found a fitting first recipient. His story is not simply one of professional accomplishments or personal success, but of a lifetime spent investing in the people and community around him.
Social Media