Small Town News

Williams to be inducted into MLF Hall of Fame

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Former Lake Roosevelt student, and onetime Raider head football coach, Rob Williams has been chosen to be inducted into the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in December.

Williams will join 21 other players, nine coaches, two executives, and one team that together make up the Class of 2009 inductees, reported in the November edition of the online news service Minor League Football News.

Williams played and coached the line locally from 2005 through 2008 for the Okanogan County Commandos, a semi-professional football program. The Commandos retired Williams' jersey, number 59, after his sudden passing in September 2008. Williams was also selected to play for Team USA for three consecutive years in games around the United States and in Europe.

Team USA is a traveling minor league team that represents MLF around the globe.

Team USA head coach Rudy Wyland nominated Williams to the MLF Hall of Fame not only for his outstanding play on the field but also for the ultimate commitment to the sport of football, his mother Jan Williams said last week. Rob Williams demonstrated that commitment through his work with high school teams and his founding of the local youth football program.

"I support the standard of teams like the Commandos and Team USA, the spirit of what football is all about," Jan Williams said. "They are not paid to play; in fact they pay to play. That's what is pure about it. These are guys who play for the love of the sport. There is nothing to be gained monetarily, they just love the sport. That's what makes this award so special."

The memory of Coach Williams will also be honored by the changing of the name of Minor League Football's annual award for best offensive lineman of the year to "The Rob Williams Memorial Offensive Lineman of the Year Award." Accepting the honor for his big brother will be Raider football manager, and longtime LRHS fan, Michael Williams.

Jan Williams will deliver her son's Hall of Fame induction speech Dec. 5 in Las Vegas. She was excited to hear that Mike would be a part of the celebration.

"We went to every game and traveled 1,000 miles a week his senior year of high school and then to Duck home games," she said. "Michael was a big part of that, and that's why I'm glad that he is going to be involved in the ceremony honoring his brother."

In 2005 Williams was inducted, along with the rest of his alma mater Oregon Duck 2004 football team, into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame for their outstanding season that led them to the Rose Bowl.

Before the Hall of Fame Legends Bowl Dec, 5 in Las Vegas, that pits Team USA against the Farnham Knights of the British American Football League, Williams will also receive the highest honor in any sport when the league follows the lead of the Commandos and retires the jersey number "59."

"This is an honor for Robbie to be recognized like this," Jan Williams said. "It's hard to put into perspective how far-reaching his love of the game was and how many people he passed that on to."

The ceremonies will take place at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.

"This is an honor for Robbie to be recognized like this."

Jan Williams



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© 2010 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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