East Carolina University’s achievements as a premier educational institution have been made possible in large part by the exceptional generosity of its alumni and the local community. Extraordinary on this count are Walter and Marie Williams, tireless supporters of ECU and among its most outstanding benefactors. Like many longtime eastern North Carolinians, Walter Williams was born on a tobacco farm. The recently renovated Williams’ home place still stands south of Greenville on County Home Road. A child of the Depression, Williams chose to attend East Carolina Teachers College close to home rather than N. C. State where his older brother studied. In 1951, he completed his degree in health and human performance. During his last semester at ECTC, William met Marie Stallings, his future bride. Marie completed her degree in education in 1953. Though engaged, Williams served his country in the Army during the Korean War. After returning home, Walter and Marie married. Through the G. I. Bill, Williams was able to return to East Carolina College to earn an M.A. in education supervision, completing his graduate degree in 1955. Subsequently, the couple began teaching in Farmville.
Williams soon had the opportunity, through his older brother, to assume leadership of the eastern North Carolina branch of Taylor Oil Company. Williams worked with Taylor Oil until his retirement in 1984 when he started his own business, Trade Oil Company. Beginning with only two convenience stores, Trade Oil grew rapidly, becoming the 74th largest convenience store chain in the United States by 2005. In 2001, Williams’ brother merged his A.T. Williams Company with Amerada Hess, creating Wilco Hess. Trade Oil joined the conglomerate in 2005. Williams soon parlayed his impressive success in the fuel industry into extraordinary generosity and selfless support for East Carolina University.
As testimony to the Williams’ contributions, several prominent athletic facilities bear their name. Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum is named in their honor, as is Williams Jungle at Clark-LeClair Stadium, the Smith-Williams Center, and the Walter and Marie Williams Athletic Hall of Fame Gallery. Although never a student-athlete himself, Williams believes that the university should have first-rate athletic programs and facilities. The Williamses have been Pirate Club members since 1966, and gave the Pirate Club its first one-million-dollar gift in 1993. He has served as executive president and is currently director emeritus of the Pirate Club. Honoring his passion for ECU athletics, Walter Williams was inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. It should be noted that the Williamses are also generous supporters of Pitt Community College in Greenville. Recently, in honor of their many contributions to PCC, the college named its newest academic building, the Williams Building, after them. The building, currently the largest on campus (78,000 square feet), houses PCC’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs.
Equally important for the Williamses is their generous support for the STEPP program. STEPP – Supporting Transition and Education through Planning and Partnerships – assists students who might be challenged otherwise to begin their college education. The Williamses see STEPP as another way to give back to the local community. As native eastern North Carolinians, they feel a personal responsibility to steward their resources for the benefit of local students. The STEPP program has given them that opportunity. The program guides a select group of students in transitioning from high school to college, and then on to a professional career after graduation.
The Williamses remain vigorous supporters of the university. Recently they pledged one million dollars to the Dowdy-Ficklen Southside Renovation Project for 2018. Over sixty years after their graduation from East Carolina College, they stand as exemplary leaders who personify the university’s founding mission of service.
Sources
- “Basketball Practice Facility Campaign Launched.” ECUPirates.com. http://www.ecupirates.com/news/2010/11/10/Basketball_Practice_Facility_Campaign_Announced.aspx
- Goldberg, Rob. “Supporting Eastern North Carolina is Simply Doing the Right Thing.” Pitt Community College Foundation. August 25, 2017. https://www.pittccfoundation.com/2017/08/supporting-eastern-north-carolina-simply-right-thing/
- Row, Steve. “Filling Up on Pirate Pride.” East Magazine, Summer 2007.
- Tuttle, Steve and Kathryn Kennedy. “‘A Fantastic Start’: Alum fund ECU program supporting students with disabilities.” ECU News Services. http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/steppgift.cfm
- “Williams Foundation Commits $1 Million Towards DFS Renovation Campaign.” ECUPirates.com. http://www.ecupirates.com/news/2016/8/18/general-williams-foundation-commits-1-million-towards-dfs-renovation-campaign.aspx
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Citation Information
Title: Walter and Marie Williams
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 6/25/2019