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 Ryan was a well thought of individual with strong
connections to Washington Monroe School. He was a member of the
District 27 School Board, respected by many in the community. He had
a dream of making Washington-Monroe a better school for his own
children who would attend there as well as the hundreds of other
children who will pass through those halls in future years.
Ryan enjoyed sports and saw the value in active play for the
physical and emotional well-being of children, and he felt that
while Washington-Monroe had a play area, it could be better.
Shortly after Ryan’s passing, as friends gathered around the
Williams family in support, the dream of a new playground that Ryan
held close to his heart was shared with others including Mike and
Darla Rohrer.
“That's all it took to light the spark. Everybody was in the same
boat, wanting to do something to honor Ryan, and this project fit
the bill perfectly,” said Rohrer on August 17th, 2020.
Rohrer noted at that time, that the family had asked that memorials
be made to Washington-Monroe School in Ryan’s obituary. Taking it a
step further, Rohrer and other friends of the family started working
toward raising a minimum of $30,000 via a Go Fund Me account in
Ryan’s name for the new playground.
The account was opened, and in no time at all the goal was reached
and exceeded.
With the money in hand, a committee was established to design and
construct the playground. The committee consisted of Ali, Harper,
Don and Marla Williams, Julie Bates, Jim Rohrer, Stephen Rohrer,
Marc Schoonover, Todd Courtwright, District 27 Superintendent Kent
Froebe, Washington-Monroe Principal Ginger Chaudoin, and Mike
Rohrer.
Construction on the new playground then began in June of 2021.
In no time at all the playground went from this
to this.
In addition, the hard surface play area on the east side of the
playground that was used for outdoor basketball was upgraded.
To reach that completion point, the playground was stripped down to
the soil, removing all the old equipment and the old soft surface
materials.
Then, dozens of volunteers from the community arrived to help
rebuild something that would be a fitting tribute to Ryan Williams,
and an asset for children at Washington-Monroe.
On Friday, August 20, 2020, one year later, a large crowd came
together to dedicate the new playground and officially name it the
Ryan Williams Memorial Playground.
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The program was led by Principal Chaudoin with Ryan’s sister Amy and
his wife Ali also addressing the crowd. Then Ali and her daughter
Harper snipped the ribbon on the new playground with son Barrett,
sister Amy, parents Don and Marla, Superintendent Froebe and
Principal Chaudoin watching on.
Several members of city and county government also witnessed the
dedication and ribbon cutting.
Chaudoin recounted her personal history as a student with the
Williams family including Marla being her cheer coach at Lincoln
Junior High and Don being her brother’s basketball coach.
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 She also met Ryan and Amy in her student years,
and was excited when Ryan became a member of the District 27 School
Board. She said that Ryan was a concerned parent and an engaged
board member who held the best interest of the children in his
heart.
“The Williams family has always held a special place
in my heart. They love this school and this district just as I do.”
She went on to say, “Even though the circumstances that led to this
day and the playground were devastating, I’d like to thank Ryan, the
entire Williams Family and their friends that pulled together in
their grief to make his dream come true.”
Amy Williams said that her brother was a super hero, not wearing a
cape or being able to fly; his gift to all was that he had the
ability to make people laugh. She said that he loved
Washington-Monroe School and he loved all children and wanted to see
them thrive. Amy said that while there were school rules for the
playground, she had a few of her own based on her brother’s
perspective. She challenged the kids to every day try something new
and explore their possibilities including making new friends. She
secondly wanted them to keep trying when they failed, and to make
themselves better. And finally, she wanted them to find reasons to
laugh.
She closed saying, “I hope that when I pass here, I hope to hear the
sounds of a thousand laughs. That is when I will know that Ryan is
here with all of us.”
Ryan’s wife Ali was the final person to speak. She came to podium
and smiled out at the crowd. “I can’t say that I am glad I am here,
but I am very appreciative to see everyone here, and I am very
honored to be here today. I look out and I see our son Barrett, our
daughter Harper, who’s in third grade, and I can’t help but imagine
a third grade version of Ryan. He would be so excited about this
playground and especially that basketball court that you are all
(Washington-Monroe students) sitting on.
"Because it is outside. Ryan loved the outdoors. A playground is for
laughs and if you knew Ryan you know he loved to make people laugh.
"And finally the playground is for the community. She said that Ryan
loved this community. He was a proud employee of the Logan County
Department of Public Health, and he couldn’t wait to spend years as
a proud member of the District 27 School Board."
Williams said that she had read a quote by Abraham Lincoln that was
so fitting for Ryan that she had never forgotten it. “I like to see
a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live
so that his place will be proud of him.”
Williams added, “I am so proud of him for the life he lived. As we
dedicate this playground today, I want you to know, no playground
was every built with such love.”
She concluded saying that if Ryan were here he would say to all,
“Take care of this place, be kind to everyone always, but most
importantly laugh and have fun.”
The ribbon cutting was then conducted in the center of the
playground as Ali had requested, with the students from
Washington-Monroe in the background.
In a separate release, published prior to the dedication Mike Rohrer
expressed appreciation as well.
“Numerous personal and business donations of money, goods,
machinery, food, and time were used to install the playground
equipment.
Special thanks to those listed below that supported the project with
their expertise:
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Kent Froebe, Superintendent - Lincoln Elementary School District
27
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Ginger Chaudoin, Principal - Washington Monroe School
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Brandon Winebrinner - Chicago Street Rental
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Jim Rohrer/Neil Rohrer – Rohrer Farms
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Kurt Hullinger – Lincoln Iron and Metal
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John Barrick – Barrick Enterprises
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Ethan Hoinacke – Guest House
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Pete Helton – D & D Sewer
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Walt Landers – City of Lincoln, Streets and Alley
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Wes Woodhall – City of Lincoln, Building and Zoning"
[Nila Smith] |
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