Two killed in plane crash called ‘real good people’

Oklahomans say man was community giver

Thursday, October 24, 2013

An Oklahoma philanthropist who died in a plane crash in Madison County on Monday was a University of Arkansas graduate and an avid Razorbacks fan, friends and relatives said Wednesday.

Ivan B. Williams III, 63, and his wife Adina Beth Williams, 52, were killed when their Piper Saratoga plane went down. Searchers found the plane’s wreckage Tuesday.

The couple had two sons, said Nick Vandervoort, Williams’ brother-in-law. Williams also had two sons from a previous marriage.

Williams was president and chief executive officer of Williams Construction Co. in Pryor, Okla., where he lived, Vandervoort said.

On Wednesday, customers of Boomarang Diner in downtown Pryor shared their memories of Williams. Milton Brown of Pryor said he had just spoken with Williams a few days ago.

“He was the type of guy you can sit down and talk to,” Brown said. The Williamses “will be missed. It is one ofthe things where people say ‘Why do bad things happen to good folks?’”

Across the room, Juan Hernandez sat at a table eating breakfast. He said Williams hired him to move the family’s furniture when the Williamses purchased a new home. He added that his grandson works for Williams Construction.

“They were real good people,” Hernandez said. “Him and his wife thought about other people. They never meet a stranger they didn’t like.”

The couple’s plane disappeared while flying from Sylacauga, Ala., to Claremore, Okla., said Lynn Lunsford, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane was in contact with the Razorback Approach Control in Fort Smith at the time of the crash.

Vandervoort, vice president of Williams Construction, said Williams had a hands-on approach to his business and the community. Every day Williams Construction employees ate lunch together in the company kitchen, with the meal provided by the company.

Williams wanted everyone to have a time when they could get together and discuss company business, Vandervoort said.

The company was founded in 1953 by Williams’ father, Vandervoort said.

The company primarily builds industrial facilities and employs 90 people, said Chris Kinder, client development and marketing official for the firm. The company celebrated its 60th anniversary in June.

Williams graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1973, Vandervoort said. He is a Sigma Chi alumnus.

Last year, one of Williams’ sons graduated from UA, and another son is attending the school now,Vandervoort said.

Attending UA is a family tradition, Vandervoort said. He said Williams’ family is originally from Arkansas. His maternal grandmother was from Helena and was one of five sisters who attended the university in Fayetteville, Vandervoort said.

Kinder said Williams often attended Razorbacks games. The company’s name on its general contractor license in Arkansas is Hog Wild, Kinder said.

Williams’ father attended the University of Oklahoma, Kinder said. Father and son enjoyed the rivalry between their alma maters, Kinder said.

A framed drawing depicting a hog holding down the University of Oklahoma’s mascot hangs on Williams’ office wall. Inside the frame is a dollar bill. The picture - drawn by Williams’ father and dated Jan. 2, 1978, across the top - is the result of a bet that Williams’ father lost when Arkansas defeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on that date, Kinder said.

Kinder said Williams was active in many community organizations. He donated money, land, services and his time to the organizations he was passionate about.

The Pryor Lions Club, local Boy Scouts of America, women’s organizations and local schools were a few of the organizations he helped, Kinder said.

Williams started the Pryor Academic Excellence Foundation, Vandervoort said. He also was a former president of the School Board. The foundation gives grants to teachers for projects that are typically not paid for with public funds.

Beverly Ogg, an office assistant with the company, said she has two sons who have received their Eagle Scout rank because of Williams’ help. She said Williams also helped a third son who is currently working toward Eagle Scout.

“He pushed all the boys in this area,” Ogg said. “He helped one of my sons build a fence for the project. He was out there on a Saturday morning with his tools.”

Williams also supported Women’s Outreach of Hope. Melissa Jones, its vice president, said the organization would have probably closed if it weren’t for Williams.

“He became our president in October 2011,” Jones said. “He essentially saved the organization at that point. It had been existing for 20 years but it had changed hands.”

Jones said, the organization serves women who are homeless and recovering from domestic violence or drug abuse. She said the organization has helped 70 women since 2011.

Helping others was something Williams believed in, Kinder said. He said Williams often helped peoplebehind the scenes without asking for public attention.

“He didn’t mind people knowing some of his contributions because he wanted to inspire other people to give,” Kinder said. “Some of it was just between him and his God.”

Williams’ office is filled with honors he has received over the years, including a Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America, a Melvin Jones Fellowship award from the Pryor Lions Club, Builder of the Year recognition from the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma, and Citizen of the Year honors from the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 10/24/2013