The children of Dr. H.E. and Beatrice Williams helped celebrate the 75th anniversary of Williams Baptist College on Wednesday, August 24. Martha Nicholas, Jim Williams and Steve Williams told of their memories at the college’s opening convocation ceremony.
The three were interviewed onstage, eliciting both tears and laughter as they recalled the early years of the institution, which was founded as Southern Baptist College in 1941.
All three children talked of the years of sacrifice their parents and others poured into the college, as well as more lighthearted moments, such as Steve, the youngest child, getting into trouble when he skipped church to see the Beatles at Walnut Ridge Airport in 1964.
Martha Nicholas and Jim Williams both live in Little Rock, and Steve Williams lives in Cumming, Georgia.
WBC President Tom Jones recognized former presidents Jack Nicholas and Jerol Swaim, who also attended the ceremony. The convocation was held in WBC’s Manley Chapel.
Williams is a liberal arts college in Walnut Ridge. Founded as a junior college, it moved to four-year status in 1984. The name was changed from Southern to Williams Baptist College in 1991.
Photo attached: The children of Williams Baptist College founder H.E. Williams, (left to right) Steve Williams, Jim Williams and Martha Nicholas, answer questions from Brett Cooper, WBC’s vice president for institutional advancement, at the college’s 75th anniversary convocation ceremony.