Late Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams has been honored by the Louisiana Municipal Advisory and Technical Services Bureau (LaMATS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Louisiana Municipal Association, with a new scholarship program in his name that supports small town parks and recreation staff.
LaMATS board of directors approved funding for the program during its February 28 meeting. Williams was a long-time LaMATS board member and past president of the LMA.
Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA) President Amie Hebert said the annual scholarships will support up to 10 small town and village municipal parks and recreation staffers to receive specialized training from the LRPA.
“This scholarship will make certification accessible for smaller towns that wouldn’t have the funding to send one of their own,” Hebert said. “Now we’ll be able to meet people where they are and give them training to better their community.”
Scholarships will allow qualifying personnel to be certified as Playground Safety Inspectors, a National Recreation and Parks Association training program formerly available only outside the state.
Dedicated funding through LaMATS will support the scholarships, which will be effective immediately for upcoming training opportunities announced by LRPA. Scholarships will be allocated to communities at the request of local mayors.
Mayor Michael Chauffe of Gross Tete, LaMATS Secretary/Treasurer, introduced the new Jimmy Williams Scholarship as a way to honor his friend of many years and praised him for his integrity and character.
“There could be no more fitting honor for our good friend,” said Woodworth Mayor David Butler, WLaMATS President. Butler called the honor well-deserved, pointing to Williams’ love of sports and his dedication to public parks and recreation.
Sibley’s interim mayor Robert Smart said he knew Williams would be delighted with the program and the assistance it would be giving smaller Louisiana towns.
“I think this was a thoughtful gesture from LaMATS. It represented Jimmy in every aspect and I know he is looking down and smiling,” Smart said. “He took great pride in representing the LMA and was involved in every part of the organization. I am honored to be the one chosen to try and fulfill his dreams for Sibley. He was a God-fearing, fun-loving man that loved his town and the people in it.”