Joe Williams

Joe Williams led the sports charge of the Williams brothers through Lincoln High School, and he stood tall doing it. Brothers Jerry and Dave followed in his big footsteps at Lincoln and also enjoyed outstanding post-high school careers. Both are also Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame members.

"Having three brothers in the Hall of Fame is a very special honor for the Williams family," said Joe Williams. The brothers accounted for 46 letters earned in 12 years of team participation as Abes. Interestingly, because of the spread in their ages, they never were teammates.

Known as "Big Joe," he is considered the City League's first "Big Man." At 6-foot 5 inches and 220 pounds, he achieved much of his growth by the 9th grade and topped out at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds as a senior.

The 1955 graduate is proud of having played with Luther Carr at both Gault Junior High School and Lincoln and Duane Lowell and Jack Walters at Lincoln and UW - all are Hall of Fame members. Williams excelled in football, basketball, track and decathlon. He played center and defensive end for football Coach Norm Mayer's league and state championship teams and was center on the basketball team that qualified for district playoffs. He achieved city, league and state recognition and established records in high hurdles and as part of the relay team.

Williams also participated in choir and recalls a grand experience. "Some sort of challenge was made during class about grand pianos. I crawled under it and lifted it off the floor on my shoulders. The word got out, and I was called to the principal's office (and he wasn't commended for that feat)." The incident was picked up by the Lincoln News with this headline: "Lynx Lifts 900-pound Piano . . . Performs Stunt on Dare . . . Says Nothing To It."

Williams attended the University of Washington for a year and played frosh football before beginning a 27-year career as a Trooper with the Washington State Patrol. During his WSP years he was an organizer and coach team youth sports in Thurston County in what he terms a "family affair" with his wife and daughter. He also coached and played in a slow-pitch league.

Now retired, he resides in Hansville, Kitsap County. He was born March 31, 1937 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.