ROCKWALL (December 26, 2013) Judge Brian Williams, Rockwall County Court at Law, grew up playing soccer, basketball and baseball at the Y. The lifelong Rockwall resident currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Managers of the JER Chilton YMCA – a very rewarding experience, he says, because he’s seen the Y grow with the community.
“The Y has been a part of my life since I was five years old,” Williams said. “We played soccer on fields that sat on the present site of the Rockwall Courthouse. My sister and I took swimming through the Y at the Harry Myers Park Pool when the Y was housed at the adjacent community building.”
With a nearly $5 million expansion and renovation project underway, the JER Chilton YMCA will add 12,000 sq. ft. to the facility at 1210N. Goliad, including a 6,000 sq. ft. workout area.
“The new fitness facilities will be first rate, and the updated building will be the type of facility that the people of Rockwall County deserve,” Williams said. “Watching the Y continue to grow with this county brings a great sense of pride.”
Williams and his wife Beth have a son named Sam, who has also participated in soccer and baseball at the Y.
“The great thing about the Y today is that it is for people of all ages,” said Williams, who has played in the adult basketball leagues and volunteered for events like the Y’s annual Dirty Rock Triathlon. “The healthy living, exercise and sports programs are great for staying fit. The Youth & Government and Guide programs are great for building leaders and strengthening families. Basically, the Y not only strengthens the individual, but it strengthens the community as a whole as it serves as the unofficial community center for Rockwall County.”
Some of Williams’ favorite childhood times were with his friends in the Cheyenne Tribe in the Guides program. “One memory that stands out is the wonderful time we had at the family camp out at Camp Grady Spruce. Some of the people that attended are still my closest friends today.”
Williams is also fond of the Angel Camp program for special needs children. “If you ever get a chance to volunteer or observe Angel Camp during the summer, you will see true happiness in the faces of counselors and campers,” he said. “The genuine joy of these kids that might not have ever been able to attend camp without the Y will truly enrich your heart.”
By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News.
Editor’s Note: For more than 30 years, JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall has been helping to shape the lives of many in the local community. With a mission to “put Christian values into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all,” the Y focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility – providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. Our “Why the Y” series shines the spotlight on community members who have been positively affected by being part of the Y family.
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