A Great Man Retires from Central Schools

Robert Williams retired from the Central school system on June 30. More than 400 people gathered for a surprise party honoring Coach Williams and his remarkable, trail-blazing career in public education.
As a young teacher, he was assigned to Cheneyville High School, an all-black school where he was quite comfortable.
Then something unexpected happened. In 1970, the East Baton Rouge Parish school system decided that he would become the first black teacher and coach at Central High. He was adamantly against this, quit the school system, and got a job in Chicago. But his wife wanted to be near Zachary.
Then he got a call from the coach at Central High urging him to reconsider. He decided to give Central a try. It was a difficult time, and there was a lot of racial animosity. He expected a cold reception in Central.
But to his surprise, the coaches, administration, and parents greeted him with open arms. It was the beginning of a love affair that continues to this day — between Robert Williams and the people of Central. It certainly didn’t hurt that he was an inspirational coach and an outstanding teacher.
In 1974, he was promoted to assistant principal. In 1976, he was named principal at Northwest Middle School in Zachary, a post he held for 10 years.
In 1986, the parish school system chose him to be Director of Middle Schools for the entire parish. He served in that capacity until he retired the first time in 2002.
Upon retirement, he was asked to come to Mississippi as a school administrator, where he served until 2007.
Then a most unusual thing happened. Central had voted to have its own school system, and new Supt. Mike Faulk was looking for excellent administrators. Coach Williams applied.
Mr. Faulk didn’t know Coach Williams had been the first black teacher and coach at Central High School. He hired him based on his credentials and his interview.
He was selected to be Director of Student Services. Once the appointment was made public, Coach Williams’ many former students and athletes expressed their excitement. They were surprised to learn that no one had been pushing Mr. Williams’ appointment or working behind the scenes for him.
Rather, he was chosen based on a completely objective evaluation of his qualifications by Supt. Mike Faulk.
As Director of Student Services, Coach Williams has had one of the most difficult responsibilities, because he had to investigate every case where a parent was trying to send a child to Central schools when the family did not live in Central. There were cases where a child supposedly lived at one location. The bus driver would drop the child off at that location. Then a few minutes later, the parent would pick the child up and take him to his real home outside Central. Coach Williams had to follow some parents as far as Mississippi to learn where they actually lived.
Now Coach Williams will finally have some free time to spend with his wife Dorothy Ann. They’ve been married 53 years. Also with his three children and four grandchildren.
For 50 years, Robert Williams has devoted himself to the children of our area. He has been willing to undertake whatever task was necessary to make the school system great.
For all the lives he has touched in such a positive way, we say, “Thank you, Coach! Job well done!”