CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Keith Williams of Flossmoor, Ill., was crowned King Dad by the University of Illinois Dads Association at its annual banquet Friday (Oct. 31) during Dads Weekend festivities.
Lawrence Dahl of Lincoln, Neb., and Christopher Kross of East Stroudsburg, Pa., were honored as finalists at the dinner.
The Dads Association carries on the King Dad tradition originally established by the Illini Union Board more than 30 years ago. The award recognizes one special dad for his support, encouragement and inspiration. Williams received an engraved plaque to commemorate the award.
Williams was nominated by his daughter, Ashley Williams, and was selected from a pool of 15 nominations. Nominations required an essay describing the reasons that best illustrate why their dad should be King Dad, the best advice their dad ever gave them, local or community involvement and what their dad would say about being nominated. A committee of the Dads Association narrowed the pool of nominations to three finalists.
Ashley Williams wrote: “My dad would probably say that he isn’t deserving of being King Dad because once he had children it was his obligation as a father to be the best that he could be and it’s not something he should be awarded for.” Ashley also described her father’s tireless community work, outreach work with children in Ghana and West Africa, and his commitment to his family and to education as being inspirational to her and her brother.
The Dads and Moms associations at Illinois, established in 1921 and 1923 respectively, are believed to be the nation’s longest-serving parent organizations. The associations support programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of the university community and serve as the parent liaison to the campus.
More information about the Dads Association and the Moms Association is available on the Web or from the Parent Programs Office at 217-333-7063.
