| School: Franklin | Graduation Year: 1993 |
Year Inducted: 2018
Sports Played: Football, Cross Country, Basketball, Baseball
High School Honors: 1 Football letter.
1 Cross Country letter.
3 Basketball letters, 1st Team All-PIL as a Junior and Senior; East West All-Star Game as a Senior. Team Captain.
3 Baseball letters, 1st Team All-PIL as a Junior pitcher and Senior shortstop; 2nd Team All-PIL as a Junior shortstop and Senior pitcher. Team Captain.
Male Athlete of the Year as a Senior.
Post High School Career: On 2 Conference Championship Basketball teams with All-Star status both years at Clackamas Community College while shooting over 50% from 3-point range. 2 Basketball letters at Whitworth University, 1st Team All-Tournament while finishing 2nd in the National Tournament as a Junior. 1st Team and Co-MVP of the Northwest Conference, All-American, and led NAIA schools nationally with 56.7% from 3-point range as a Senior. Semi-Pro Basketball 2 years with NBC Thunder. Taught PE and coached Varsity Basketball for 6 years in Stanfield, OR. Elementary School Principal in Bonners Ferry, ID for the past 10 years.
Commentary:
I have been blessed to have many people in my life encourage me throughout the years and make a huge impact on who I’ve become. I had great high school coaches who made my time on the field or on the court very enjoyable. From my freshmen football season with Coach Rick Holte, to Saturday open gyms with Scott Santangelo, the gentlemen at Franklin High School were very knowledgeable, fun to be around, and motivated me to get better.
One coach who probably didn’t know he made a huge impact on me, but he did, was Rick Rier. My sophomore year Coach Rier was our head coach at Franklin. That year he started a basketball shooting class and transformed my shot. He spent countless hours on the proper technique of shooting a basketball and really encouraged me. I believe his time and energy opened my eyes to what I could do on the court. Assisting me with my outside shot made me a well-balanced player and really taught me that in all sports technique is critical to get the most out of what you were given.
Furthermore, I wouldn’t have been the player I was if it wasn’t for Coach Scott Aker. He was a player’s coach who I enjoyed immensely. He was fun to be around, but knew how to motivate and get the most out of you. Coach Aker had a great mind for the game and played a huge role in developing me as a player, both physically and mentally.
The coach who gave me the most encouragement, sacrificed his time and resources, and made me the athlete I am was my father, Dave Williams. He alone made athletics fun, knew how to get the most out of me, and gave his heart and soul to making me a better player. Throughout my years he coached me in almost every sport from 2nd grade to 8th grade and never was an athlete himself growing up. He read books, watched sports on television, and studied the game intently. He taught me the value of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and the love of competition. I am who I am as an athlete, father, and person because of my father.