New Doctoral Degree and Professional Development Opportunities: College of Education Empowering Educators
Few individuals have shaped the story of Lubbock Christian University (LCU) more profoundly than Dr. E. Don Williams (’62)—known affectionately as “Doc” to generations of students, colleagues, and friends. On Tuesday, October 21, LCU hosted the “Don Williams: His Lasting Legacy Dinner & Celebration” in honor of Dr. Williams, which included the dedication and naming of the Don E. “Doc” Williams Theatre in the C. L. Kay Christian Development Center (CDC) as a lasting testament to the impact he had on this university.
The dinner program was filled with stories from friends, colleagues, classmates, former students, and family, each sharing precious memories and profound moments in which Dr. Williams touched their lives. Randal Dement (’89), Vice President of Student Life, presided as the Master of Ceremonies—a role which Dr. Williams himself has mastered over his long tenure at LCU.
“Doc was present,” Dement emphasized in his opening remarks, recalling a story in which Dr. Williams’ small act of having a genuine conversation with a convenience store clerk helped show him the power of personal connection. “That was a mark that Doc made on me—he changed how I viewed the world.”
Dr. Gary Estep, alongside whom Dr. Williams served as dean for many years, opened the evening with a prayer. Dr. Laurie (Lawlis, ’82) Doyle, the Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Chair of Fine Arts, reminisced about her time working with Williams for over four decades, a span during which they directed over 80 theatrical productions and influenced countless lives.
“Many are here tonight because Dr. Williams was not only your teacher or mentor, but also your friend,” Dr. Doyle emphasized. “A greater friend you will not find. I don’t know anyone kinder than he is—he makes everyone feel special. He’s loaned his own clothes to students; he’s loaned them money; he’s driven them all over the place. He’s performed numerous weddings and spoken at numerous funerals.”
Dr. Doyle added that one of their former students, a talented theatre director named Drew Weezner (‘08), who was also in attendance, had shared of Doc, “I quote him every year at my banquet: ‘The serendipity of theatre is that you come together to create a show, and you end up creating a family.’ I think that the serendipity of Doc is that he set out to create a theatre department, and he ended up creating a multi-generational family tree that continues to produce lifelong relationships.”
David Yirak (’79), Director of the TEXAS Outdoor Musical worked with Dr. Williams on that production for over a decade and was also a lifelong friend and former student. He told stories of building stage sets for Dr. June Bearden, another legend of LCU Theatre, and of long trips to Dr. Williams’ hometown of Spur, Texas, before he turned to the TEXAS Outdoor Musical.
“The best part of those 16 years were the three weeks each year that Don would come up to help me direct the show,” he recalled. “We’d bring young people in from all over the country—young performers, and people who needed to be accepted and loved. Don Williams is the type of person that, as soon as he walks into a room, everyone in there becomes the best version of themselves. They become better people because of Don—kinder, more loving. Don, you gave these young people that I love and adore a home. Thank you.”
Tia (Walters, ’96) Clary, Treasurer of the LCU Board of Trustees, recalled her time growing up around Dr. Williams, as her mother served as administrative assistant to Dr. Williams and Dr. Estep—long before Tia herself would attend LCU. Dr. L. Ken Jones, LCU’s Fifth President and current President of Oklahoma Christian University, returned to LCU specifically for this event, and he recalled the profound respect and dedication that Dr. Williams had shown him during his 19-year tenure as the leader of LCU.
“I watched you as an academic leader,” Dr. Jones said to Dr. Williams from the stage. “I watched you as a professor. I watched you as a friend and mentor to countless students. I watched you as a creator of musicals and theatrical productions, as a producer, and as a director. I watched you as a Master of Ceremonies.
“It’s not my authority, it’s not my right, and not my privilege,” he continued, “but if it were—to name someone to the title of all-time Mr. LCU—I would think about some of those legendary professors, and I would think about some of those legendary coaches. But, Don, I would name you.”
Finally, Dr. Williams’ own daughter, Kristi (Williams, ‘89) Curtis, shared on behalf of the Williams family their immense gratitude, both for their beloved patriarch and for the LCU community in which their lives have been so deeply rooted over the past half-century.
“Thank you does not seem enough to those who made this night possible—we are all thrilled to be here. To all of you who are present tonight—this is a room full of love, and it is a blessing and a delight to be here,” she said. “Dad has lived and breathed LCU since 1960, and he is a living example of what ‘Be Blue’ truly means.”
Dr. Scott McDowell, LCU’s Seventh President, made an official declaration on behalf of the university, recognizing Dr. Williams’ incredible legacy and impact on LCU. Then, finally, Dr. Williams himself, who continues to serve as a faculty member teaching communication classes, responded to the many stories and memories, emphasizing the value of friendships—the very thing that filled the Baker Conference Center in his honor.
“There is no treasure in this life as important as a friend. You’re treasures to me, my friends. I love each of you, and I love the times we’ve spent together.”
The evening concluded across campus in the CDC with the formal dedication of the newly-renovated Williams Theatre, and a blessing by Dr. Jesse Long, the Jesse C. Long, Jr. Endowed Chair of Biblical Text, over Dr. Williams, his family, and LCU.
Among the crowd that packed the Baker Conference Center were many of Dr. Williams’ own former students—and they all agreed that there could be no more deserving man to be honored than Doc. Keegan Peck (’10), a lifelong performer, recalled that Dr. Williams directed the very first production he was a part of at LCU.
“I remember that it didn’t take long before I thought, ‘Someday, I want to be just like him.’ I’m sure I’m not the only person to feel that way,” he added. “His legacy was at work decades before I arrived, and it was a blessing for my experience at LCU to include him. When I think of LCU, I think of Doc.”
Drew Weezner, whom Dr. Doyle quoted in her comments, recalled Dr. Williams’ impact on his time at LCU and beyond. “In the good moments, he was there. In the moments when I decided I was going to marry my wife, he celebrated with me. In the hard moments, with employment, directing, even as a father, he’s always there. He loves me unconditionally, and I think everyone here could say that—he truly exudes that spirit of love in everything he does.”
“Don Williams was, and is, an incredible mentor for students,” echoed Jeff Sammons (’07), who attended LCU as a student and then later served as both staff and adjunct faculty. “He’s down-to-earth and can really find what drives and motivates someone and bring out the best in them. One of his great strengths is his ability to establish and foster relationships and then use those to nurture excellence.”
Attendee after attendee shared how those relationships truly changed their lives. Jenna Athanasiou (’10) admitted that she would not have even attended LCU if it were not for Dr. Williams’ influence.
“I didn’t want to stay in Lubbock for college,” she recalled. “My mom made an appointment with this man named Doc Williams, the head of the theatre department, and when I met him, they were doing the show You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He showed me around the set, and he was so full of life, and energy, and jokes, and charisma, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He changed my life. I became a theatre major, and he didn’t just teach me how to be a theatre student—he taught me how to be a good person, how to show love to others, how to be a part of a team, how to put effort into tough things, how to do things with passion and compassion.”
Athanasiou added, “I love him, I love LCU, and I’m so happy that this is happening for him. He deserves it so much.” Dozens of others shared similar stories and sentiments through the evening, which was a testament to the impact that Dr. Williams’ storied career has had on so many across and beyond the LCU community.
A 1962 graduate of then-Lubbock Christian College, Dr. Williams returned to his alma mater in 1969 after completing his master’s degree at Texas Tech University. He would go on to earn his Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1980, and over the next five decades, build a legacy rooted in education, storytelling, and service.
Dr. Williams became Dean of the College in 1982, and following LCU’s transition to university status in 1987, he began his tenure as Dean of the Hancock College of Liberal Arts and Education. For more than 25 years, he served in academic leadership, guiding accreditation efforts, developing academic programs, and helping shape a faculty deeply committed to LCU’s mission. In 2009, he stepped down from his role as dean and returned to full-time classroom teaching—his first and lasting love. In 2010, then-Provost Dr. Rod Blackwood invited him to serve as Director of Graduate Admissions, a role he held until his retirement from full-time employment in 2019.
Even after retiring, Dr. Williams continued to teach courses in communication and theatre and direct LCU theatre productions—roles he still holds today. He has directed or co-directed over 80 LCU productions and written several original plays, including Pluto’s Ear, The Man in the Cotton Field, and Through My Eyes, a semi-autobiographical work based on his memories of growing up in Spur, Texas. His productions have provided students with invaluable experiences and brought powerful storytelling to the campus and community alike.
His excellence in the classroom and on stage has been recognized with numerous honors, including the F.W. Mattox Teaching Award (1976), the L.R. Wilson Teaching Award (2003–2004), the Texas Educational Theatre Association’s Outstanding University Teacher Award (1994), and the American College Theatre Festival Directing Award (2003). He has long served as a respected UIL one-act play judge and has guided students through regional and national competitions with the American College Theatre Festival.
Beyond the university, Dr. Williams’ talents extended to the acclaimed TEXAS Outdoor Musical in Palo Duro Canyon. Since 2006, he has served as assistant director and acting coach under David Yirak—one of his former LCU students. He continued in that role even in summer 2025, affirming his enduring passion for theatre and mentoring.
One of only two faculty members to have served under all seven university presidents, Dr. Williams stands as a bridge across generations—his voice, presence, and leadership shaping LCU’s identity across decades. His career is marked by consistency, creativity, and a deep love for students. Whether leading in administration, mentoring students in class, or directing a cast under stage lights, Doc has poured himself into the mission of the university.
Reflecting on his life’s work, he once said, “We, as teachers, are investing in the future We are rich not because of our salaries, but because of the return we receive from our students.” That return—measured in relationships, transformed lives, and the lasting impact of his guidance—defines his legacy. LCU has matured alongside him, and through his influence, countless others have, too.