The Williams family. Left to right: Craig, Janice, Louis, and Scott.
The day was supposed to be routine for Scott Williams.
It wasn’t supposed to be one the Brother Martin alum would never forget, that would forever mark his memories as before that day or after that day.
Williams, ’90, tall, handsome and broad-shouldered, seemingly had it all. At 29, he had a rising career at the New Orleans Convention Center, and with degrees in math education and education administration, he was moving up the corporate ladder.
But that day was September 11, 2001, when almost 3,000 Americans died in the terror attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
As Williams drove to work, he heard on the radio that a small prop plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
“I thought, man, this is crazy. And I figured the guy on the radio was just wrong,” he said.
Within the hour, he and his co-workers watched events unfold, huddling around a television set. American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston was the first to crash into the North Tower. Williams saw the debris, and the chaos, as the building burned before America’s eyes. And then, a second airliner hit the South Tower.
That’s about the time his mother, Janice, called. Dad was in New York, Williams remembered her saying. He had a presentation there that day, and he was in the South Tower on the 78th floor with his coworkers at Thomson Financial. As usual, Dad was early for his meeting. He was in good spirits when he called home that morning after the first plane struck, and told Janice not to worry.
Williams gathered his things, left work and began the drive across the Causeway Bridge to his mother’s home in Mandeville.
“As I drove across that bridge that day,” he said, “that bridge I had crossed a thousand times, I knew,” Williams said. “I knew I’d never see my father again. And yet, all through that drive, I had this intense feeling of peace.”
Louis Calvin Williams III, age 53, father to Scott and Craig Williams, died that day. The St. Aloysius grad (1966) was an investment analyst who had raised his family in Kenner before moving to Mandeville. He was one of five Louisiana casualties in the Towers. It would take four months for his remains to come home.
On Monday, Scott Williams, now assistant director of facilities at Brother Martin, will tell his story publicly for the first time to students, who were not born or were infants in 2001. During his 15 years working at the high school, he’s been asked to tell his story before, but he didn’t think he could get through it. This year, it’s different.
Like the young men he will address – some of whom he’s mentored and coached over the years – he’s reading The Red Bandana: A life. A choice. A legacy. Written by Tom Rinaldi, the book tells the story of Welles Crowther, whose heroism and sacrifice saved the lives of individuals trapped in the South Tower. Students will have presentations about the book, and then hear Williams’ story.
“I lost it reading the book,” Williams said. “I have so many questions about what happened. Welles was on the same floor as my father. Did he help my Dad? There are questions you’ll never have the answer to.”
After his father’s death, Williams felt his life was not on the right path.
“I was angry, and I questioned many things, even my faith,” he said. “I needed to find something that would give value, meaning to my life. So I reached out to Brother Martin, and I just said, ‘I want to come back.’ ”
Within a year, he was on a much different career path, teaching mathematics at the high school. He also coached baseball and football. He was athletic director for seven years until this fall, when he became the assistant director of facilities.
Williams finds family here.
“When we say family, those are not just pretty words on a brochure,” he said. “We’re going to discipline you if you need it, but we’ll also place our arms around you when you need it, too.”
And that’s part of his personal message to the students. His parents gave him examples of strength and resilience, and the gift of a good upbringing and a great education.
That upbringing, his Brother Martin education and the charism of Father Andre Coindre, the founder of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, provided a foundation to support Williams through his worst days.
“There are lessons in perseverance, in stepping up, in strength of character. You want to be a good father, a good husband, a good co-worker. And I’m incredibly grateful to my Dad and my mother for that gift.”
Williams wants students not to take their education at Brother Martin for granted, or the love and support of their families and teachers. He takes comfort in knowing his father is always with him, and in his family: His wife of 14 years, Elaine, and four children: Nathan ‘17, Emma, Grace and Julia.
“Appreciate every day. After a bad day you should be able to hug your Mom and Dad and put your misery away and be thankful for what you have. And then, try again the next day.”
