I am the second son of Carvell and Frances Williams born in Houston Texas in 1945. I was a rather rowdy young man who preferred living in the woods than reading books, so my parents sent me to Texas Military Institute in San Antonio. It was there that I met discipline in the face and learned it wasn't all bad.
After graduation in 1963, my father died of cancer (1964) at 55 years old. At this point I was torn between school and finding a job. I could not be a burden to my mother, so I left and struggled with various means of supporting myself. By the time I turned 20, I decided to join the Army. I turned 21 (1966) on a long march with full packs leading a platoon of basic training recruits. I applied and entered Officer Candidate School, Artillery and Missile School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and eventually became Candidate Company Commander of a new class of underclassmen. I graduated as 2nd Lieutenant in March 1967.
In January of 1968 I was deployed to Vietnam after being selected as a courier for classified documents at Travis AFB in San Francisco. My arrival in the Tet Offensive (1/29/1969) was in the jump seat of a Pan Am freighter with a bodyguard at my side, while air strikes were happening off the end of the runway. Goodbye Houston - Hello Vietnam! I joined Alpha Battery, 6th Battalion 15th Artillery as a Fire Direction Officer. I gradually worked my way up in the officer chain and became Battery Commander when my predecessor was killed (12/1/1968) at one of our LZ's near the Cambodian border. I took his place as Battery Commander and stayed at LZ Dot, 5 miles south of the NVA southern command until the end of my tour. I never felt adequate in that role and still have regret over potentially bad decisions I could have made. I learned leadership lessons the hard way! When I departed Vietnam for the states, I was awarded a Bronze Star for a particular incident and was told by my Battalion Commander that if I committed to another year of service, he would promote me to Captain. Why not!? I extended my commitment, was promoted (1969) and was diagnosed with cancer (probably Agent Orange). I had surgery, radiation therapy and a diagnosis of maybe 5 years to live.
After completing my obligation, I left the service with 100% disability which made me eligible for Veteran's Rehabilitation. Using this, I went back to school at the University of Texas in Austin to obtain a BBA. I hired into the property management business and later sold lots at a new subdivision called Walden on lake Conroe in 1974.
It was then that I was recruited to be a Management Trainee with a distributor of Industrial Safety Products. The best news at this time was that I had survived the 5 year mark. I later moved to Beaumont, met my then wife, had a son and eventually became Branch Manager. I was recruited by both a Manufacturer's Representative Agency for industrial safety and retail products, and the manufacturing business of the company, called Encon, I was currently working for in Houston. I accepted the role of National Sales Manager for Encon, and moved to The Woodlands in 1983, staying in that position for a year and a half.
The sales agency contacted me again and made me an offer my wife could refuse but I couldn't - independence! I became an independent Manufacturer's Representative, working out of my Woodlands home, for firms who manufactured industrial safety products. It was purely commission sales with no expense account, no retirement, no healthcare. I was a free bird. My wife and I lived in the Woodlands for 14 years, and my son graduated McCollough High, then Sam Houston and went on to work for a Safety Equipment distributor eventually managing their operations.
I started a new rep. agency with my coworker at the JT Everett Rep Agency called The Walker-Williams Company in 1993 purchasing the rights to represent the same companies in our local region. I built a new home as a gift for my then wife on 3 beautiful acres I cleared it by hand and supervised construction. But I'm not bitter. We divorced (2001). Later, I moved to Galveston where I lived the life of a bachelor - boating, swimming, fishing, etc. all was good for a while but got boring until I met my current wife, Sharon. All was really good again.
In 1998, I sold my interests in The Walker-Williams Company to my old partner and started another company, The Integral Group, with two other independent reps in north Texas that specialized only in Industrial Safety. We brought on a rep. in Louisiana which gave us a 5 state reach. This made contracts easier to negotiate. I bought my partners’ interests in 2005 and became sole proprietor. We were very successful, and I brought my son on board in 2009. He did a great job and is now owner and doing better at it than I did!
In 2018 I met my current wife, Sharon, and sold my house in Galveston. We moved to a townhouse I owned in Panorama for a while and then bought our current home in Walden on Lake Conroe, making the circle.
I have always been a Patriot. If my brother and I were around during the revolution I would be the Patriot and he the Loyalist! We do not agree on politics and avoid being around one another for long periods. From the same home and the same womb, we are. However, he spent 35 years in New York in the corporate world and has rotted his cognitive ability and common sense. He never served in the military. He knows not of sacrifice. Too bad.
My writings and professions via email (about 100 recipients) caught the attention of quite a few people to include the previous Precinct Chair whom I respect. She volunteered that she was going to step own after 10 years and wanted to know if I would be interested in taking her seat. I agreed and it was a big step, although I didn't realize it at the time. It has been challenging because my learned and experienced expectations of a leader are not being met by our County Chairman. It is twice the struggle it needs to be to accomplish our goals.
I believe in Jesus Christ as being the only man I follow. The rest are too prone to disappoint. I do follow the principles I have learned from Him, the military, failures, mistakes and successes – my life experience. I am deeply concerned about the way our world/country is heading and what may remain for my two granddaughters. The chaos of calamitous leadership is present at all levels of government. The only thing I can effect is that one small area around my neighborhood. It is that which I try to do to make a positive impact on our world in my lifetime.
Also, the Texas Eagle Forum PAC has given it's official endorsement of the MCTP Recommended candidates for Precinct Chairs, as well as the personal endorsement from Cindi Castilla, President of TEF!!
