Williams Endowment
Julie Bauer
4/22/04


An endowed scholarship has been established at Northwest Mississippi Community College in memory of former student and rodeo team member Ronald D. Williams of Senatobia, announced Sybil Canon, director of Development at the college.

The scholarship was established by Williams' mother, Sarah Williams, of Senatobia, and by siblings Richard Williams and Rebecca Williams Garner, both of Hernando.

In establishing the scholarship, Sarah Williams said: "I believe that this scholarship will help our family find some kind of closure in dealing with Ronald's death, and I know that Ronald would be happy that we are helping students to attend Northwest."

Proceeds from the endowment will be awarded to students involved in the rodeo program who are from Senatobia and surrounding area. Preference will be given to students who major in agricultural technology as well as students who are alumni of Magnolia Heights School in Senatobia.

Williams, who died last year at age 42, was a 1980 graduate of Magnolia Heights, where he was active in the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America.

His lifelong love of horses was influenced by his father, the late Murry Williams, who watched his son participate in his first horse show at age 2. Williams later won both the 4-H State Championship and the 4-H Regional Championship for his horsemanship.

He attended Northwest for one year and was a member of the college's rodeo team led by longtime coach Bud Young.

"Ronald was such a nice guy," Young recalled. "He always had a good attitude and was real cheerful. He was also very competitive and always wanted to win."

"Another thing I particularly remember about Ronald is that he was usually the first to arrive to help out when we were getting ready for a rodeo," Young added.

After leaving Northwest, Williams continued to work on his family¹s farm and drove a truck.

The endowed principal is held in sacred trust in perpetuity, Canon said. As the endowment increases, the Scholarship Selection Committee may award more than one scholarship with the goal being to award as many full-time scholarships as the earnings from the fund will allow.

The first scholarship from the Ronald D. Williams Endowed Scholarship will be awarded for the 2005-2006 academic year.