FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2009

Former Lions track coach passes away

Joplin, Mo. -- Former Missouri Southern pole vault coach Bill Williams passed away last night (May 19) after a bout with cancer.

Williams, the grandfather of former MSSU All-American Jacob Williams, had been a long-time supporter and former assistant coach for the Lions and he shared the namesake on the annual Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational held each year at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

Bill was a volunteer pole vault coach for Missouri Southern Men and Women’s Track and Field teams from the mid 90’s until 2005. Since that time, the Southern vaulters were conference leaders, national qualifiers and national champions. Bill and his wife, Willa, had seven sons and two daughters. Several of his children and grandchildren were vaulters in high school and college. His grandson Jacob Williams vaulted for Missouri Southern.

Williams loved pole vaulters and volunteered thousands of hours coaching, inspiring, traveling to meets and mentoring vaulters of all ages.

The Missouri Southern Track and Field family will miss him.

Visitation for Williams will be this Friday, May 22 at 6 pm with a Rosary following at 7 pm at St. Mary's Catholic Church on 2415 S. Moffet in Joplin. His funeral will be at 10 am on Saturday, May 23 at St. Mary's.