Williams to be inducted into Hall of Fame

Larry Williams feels honored.

Williams will be inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame on Friday during the Homecoming Football Game against Pontiac.

“This is such an honor,” Williams said. “SJO was a part of my life for 37 years.”

Williams graduated from SJO in 1978.

He has fond memories of participating in the music program, drama productions and “Curtain Call” the schools variety show.

He also worked on the school’s newspaper and yearbook as well as serving on the student council.

Williams said his fondest memories from SJO involve the arts programs where he grew his love of theater.

After graduation, he attended Parkland College and the University of Illinois.

He majored in Speech Communication Education, with a minor in English and concentration in Theatre.

During his college years, Williams became involved in numerous theatre productions at both Parkland and The Station Theatre. Post graduation in 1984, he found his way back to SJO, where he was hired as Speech and English teacher and Drama Director.

Williams said his path to teaching wasn’t an easy one. He changed his major multiple times.

“I realized teaching was what would be the best fit for me,” he said.

William said returning to teach at SJO was daunting.

“So many of the teachers, people that I greatly admired, were still there teaching,” he said. “I at first felt pressure to rise to the challenge, not wanting to let them down and to prove myself as a teacher.”

Williams said he quickly realized that just like his time as a student at SJO, the faculty, staff and administration, were there to help.

“ I quickly realized the pressure was in my mind, as the faculty, staff, and administration were all there to support and help me grow,” he said.

During his 33 years at SJO, Williams directed multiple productions and introduced spring musical productions as part of the drama program.

Drama students participated in the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, performing at the state event numerous times. He also served on several SJO committees, ranging from contract negotiations, curriculum review, and the mentor program for new teachers.

Williams also served as Department Chair for the English Department.

Williams said he has many fond memories of his time at SJO but watching his student grow was the best part.

Aside from performances at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, Larry served on the Festival’s planning committee, and as its Executive Director in 2011. He was also Illinois Chapter Director for the Educational Theatre Association for 12 years.

Williams retired from SJO in 2017. His retirement was short lived, as he began a new career as Coordinator of Coaching and Lifestyle Maintenance with Transformations Medical Weight Loss Program at Christie Clinic, where he has worked for nine years.

“I need someone to teach me what it means to be retired,” William said.

In addition to his job at Christie, Williams and his husband Steve own Stage Right, a cleaning/staging/organizing/downsizing business.

Their newest venture is Needful Things Warehouse Gallery, a partnership with friends, where they will sell vintage and current items ranging from clothing to furniture to accessories.

“I’m as busy now as I was when I was teaching,” he said.