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Local father reaps what he sows

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Tim Williams of Cedar Park will celebrate his 40th birthday in style. On Monday, he and his family will head to San Antonio for a day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The trip will double as a Father's Day gift for Hill Country News' Father of the Year.

“I am so surprised and touched,” said Tim - who born on Father's Day in 1968. “I am blessed and grateful for my family.”

Tim, a Captain in the United States Army, is described by his children as a strong, generous dad who coaches youth sports at the YMCA.

The family recalls Tim's nine-month tour in Afghanistan a few years ago.

“I was pregnant with my youngest son and needed lots of help,” said his wife, Sandy. “We communicated through e-mail and phone, and the kids wrote him letters.”

Tim's 13-year-old daughter Lauren Martinez received a special surprise from her father. “I remember he was gone during my fifth grade play, and he called right before the play began to wish me good luck,” she said. “When I got up on stage, I looked for my mom, and there was my dad right next to her! He got to come home for a week, and he wanted to see me in the play.”

The Williams' three sons, also known as the “Wild Boys,” gave many reasons why their dad was the best dad in the Hill Country.

“My dad is daring and adventurous. He'll try anything, just like me,” said 4-year-old Tannen. “He taught me how to ride my bike without training wheels.”

“My dad is the best because he takes time off of work to spend with me and my brothers and sisters,” said Trooper, 8, in his nomination letter to HCN. “I think he should earn a prize for all that he does.”

“My dad is cool,” said 7-year-old Sebastian (“Bas”). “He makes the best salsa and watches ‘Man vs. Wild' with us.”

Sandy said the kids each have different personalities. “Tannen's the jokester, Bas is the heavy metal rocker, Trooper is the academic one, and Lauren's the social butterfly. Tim deals with all of them so well.” She said the family would probably never win yard of the month, “but we're OK with that.”

All of his children agreed that the best thing about their dad was his willingness to put family first. “My dad has a very busy job but always makes time for his family,” said Lauren. “He never makes any decisions without thinking [about] how it will affect the kids and my mom.”

Tim graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and joined the Army Reserves during college as a recruiter. He works as a full-time recruiter for Dell. He and his wife, Sandy, have fostered nine children over the course of their 9 year marriage while raising their four biological children. They specifically try to target children 3 years old or younger in emergency foster situations.

Last year, the Williams received a call from their caseworker at Lutheran Social Services about a baby girl who had been abandoned at the hospital. Now, 10 months later, the family hopes to have the adoption process for Cary Ellis completed by July. “It's a very rewarding experience,” Tim said about being a foster parent, “but my wife and I still wish we could do more.”

And Tannen hopes to walk in his Dad's footsteps. “I remind my dad of himself when he was younger,” Tannen said. “I hope as I grow older, I'm even more like my dad, because my dad is the best!”

Tim Williams has won a $499 leather recliner from Texas Discount Furniture, two adult coach passes for Austin Steam train, four movie passes and a 1-year subscription to the Hill Country News.

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