Thomas Williams:  

A WORK IN PROGRESS I am here because I have always thought, I wonder what happened to this person and that person? A question that someone has asked about me, maybe. Anyway in this day of communication and the information highway, I thought, why not? Hello. This is a short tale of the the life and times of Tommy Williams. I dropped out of McCollum High School in 1966 at 17 and joined the U.S. Coast Guard, going directly from boot camp at Alameda, Ca. to Attu Island, Ak. I finished my High School education while there and received another stripe, making me a Seaman First Class. I also received a Commandant's Award for search and rescue. I then went to the 8th Coast Guard District in New Orleans and was there on Port Security for a year. Lots of action in New Orleans and some exciting duty as well. I traded duty stations with a Seaman in Vicksburg, Ms. in 1969. I was severely injured while on duty and was retired from duty, receiving a Letter of Appreciation from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, whatever that is worth. Basically it means thanks for being here...but you can leave now. My injuries kept me down for several years but I finally recovered and went back to school...several times. I studied Business Administration, Music and at last the Culinary Arts and Hospitality. I finished my last schooling in 1999 (didn't say I was fast). I have spent almost my entire life going to school. I played music professionally for 12 years and met some great people and some famous ones as well. Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie Ray Vaughn, James Burton ( Elvis' last guitar player), Bobbie Blue Bland, Delbert McClinton. and The Neville Bros. to name a few. I also backed up Rocking Dopsie (a well known South Louisiana Cajun Singer). I married my present Wife in 1986 and we have 3 great(nice looking too) kids. She is a retired RN. My first wife died of cancer last year but had given me one very beautiful daughter. I divorced my second wife after 4 years of marriage -- I didn't say I was good at picking wives either. But I did find the right one on the third try. I have owned 2 restaurants, have been an Executive Chef at Troy State University in Al., and also at a Private Country Club in Mo. I worked at the 5 Diamond Omni Hotel in Houston as the Evening Chef. I also worked at an upscale retirement center, The Island on Lake Travis, Tx. Early in my career I worked for some large Restaurants and Cafeterias, such as Luby's and Piccadilly and of course I still have my favorites from each of them. While in school I worked at a popular French/Belgium Restaurant in Austin, Tx. I was in charge of desserts, salads, baking ,appetizers and a few side dishes.I still enjoy Chocolate Souffles and a good Tarte Tartin (upside down apple tart),I made while working there. I also worked in catering during the off time from school. I was a participant in the Chefs for Children Program in Austin, Tx., I worked with a Chef that made pictures from Blown and Pulled Sugar, a very delicate and hot art (really). I have consulted as a culinary adviser, planning menus and recipes for private and company parties. I went to school 3 years and I worked at several other places when I could just for the experience. While in Al. I met some people and quickly became friends. They asked me to help them open a casual style family restaurant and I worked about 6 months on recipes, floor plans, decor and employee training. The Seasons Restaurant is still open today, go figure. A stroke of luck I guess. I presently send recipes and culinary tips Email to my many friends and family and it keeps me up and on top of new things happening in the food field. I also create new recipes. My friends and people I knew at Terrell Wells Junior High School and at McCollum High School include: Gary Blake John Hopper Roger Martin Darrell Edmunds (Frosty) Larry Jordan Ronnie Rosales Julio Hilario Louis Martinez Mike Martinez Rudy Rameriz Robert Kelly Melvin Vick Sandra Baxter Judy Kelly Phyllis Putnam Brenda Demeter Debbie Merrick Patsy Morgan Bimbo and Borderline (later friends) Sherry Jordan Henry Zimmerle Roanna Zimmerle Barbara Rice Hopper Dale Bowie Sweet Donna Josephine (one of a kind) Mary Helen Rosales Jimmy and Georgia Meadows Donald Donnelly Sharon Proctor Ronald Cole Bobbie Cole Ellis and Dixie Swayze Mary Miller and her 4 brothers Ruby and Wanda (doubly sweet, and sisters) Zenna Billy Davis Charlie James Gene James Tony Costano David Costano George Daughtery Eddie Hammonds Ronnie Delcourt Millie and Bill Merrick Walter Murray Raymond Chambers Charlie Pool and his sisters What a small world: Lee M. married a daughter of some old friends of mine. I think both of us were surprised and Lee requested no glass bottle drinks be served at the wedding (inside joke,sorry I threw a bottle at him years ago). Paul (I don't remember his last name) Roland & Randy Cooper (thanks Linda) Rusty Callen Whistle Martin Lloyd and Floyd Barnes Harvey Rusty with the 1955 Chevy Hildebrand Bros.and Rosie Jimmy Angleton The Bands I played in: Ralph Yount and the Upside Down Band: Ralph was a local favorite down around Campti, La. We played for a lot of standing room only crowds there because, the bar only had 3 chairs. Dean Mathis (1- 3rd of the NewBeats)played on and off with us. The Newbeats had the sevearl hits in the mid-60's: I like Bread and Butter was one of thier hits Rick Thompson and Cripple Creek Band: I was in this band 2 years and Rick was a good looking and singing nephew of Hank Thompson (Wild Side of Life, one of his many hits). We cut a popular local song in 1987 at GMR records in Gladewater, Tx. Rick went to Tn. after that song and I went back to Louisiana, he really took care of his band. Joe Shaw Band: Not a great band but we always were traveling and playing. Joe liked to work us. Played several different times with his band. Williford Brothers Band: A fun and good sounding band to play in. The 3 Brothers Garland, Bennie and Leon could sing together in 3 part harmony that was hard to beat. Garland would sing a Willie Nelson song and if you closed your eyes you could see Willie,with the right smokes! Country Squires: This Band was nothing but ear candy for me. What a musical treat to play with a bunch of old timers from the "Louisiana Hayride", a favorite venue for many great singers and bands, I mean Elvis Played there in the 1950s what more need I say? A man came up to me at a club I was playing and asked if I would like to come out and Jam with them. I took the offer and showed up at a closed music store Owned by L.D. Roberts (he played Steel Guitar in this band) I was standing outside waiting for the last few members to show up (7 in all)and a beat up, faded red Ford Truck pulled up. An old farmer got out on crutches,with a very old violin case. It made me wonder what the coming evening would bring. I went inside and they said to keep it simple, they just wanted a drummer (which I was)to keep a steady beat and do a few simple fills. I couldn't believe my ears. When the old farmer finished a fiddle lead the darn fiddle would almost smoke and L.D.Roberts was right there to burn down that red steel when the farmer gave the lead to him. All of this and 4 part harmony! At the end of the night they asked me to join the band, hell I was going to tell them I would pay to play in the band. Anyway we lasted 6 months, hard for a 7 piece band to make good money in the bars those days. Several members got tired and quit. The guitar players and myself found a singer (Rusty Walters) and played as a four piece many months. Taste of Class Jazz Band: A 5 piece band with a knocked out female singer that never met it's full potential, sometimes band members just fade away when the enthusiasm starts to die. Teddy and the Poor Boys: I played in this band when the drummer needed to take off, which was every now and then. These guys could rock! Teddy was a shoe in for Ted Nugent ,he was very good at playing Stranglehold and other old rock classics. The Canned Heat songs they covered (Let's Work Together and On the Road Again) were some of the best sounds around. Good times! The Bennie Williford Band: The Williford Brothers Band broke up and Bennie started a band with me, Rusty Walters and a lead guitar, I can only remember as Reed (sorry). It was a pretty good band, Reed could add some cool leads. Now the worse for last! Mark Dilliard Group: Such Promise, great sound and 6 months of practice and a 4 record demo tape, down the drain. Mark had a very good voice and in practice he good put it out. We booked a nice paying Gig at the Air Force N.C.O.Club Mark got stage fright so bad he couldn't sing! If the piano player or bass player didn't know a few songs it would have been a bigger disaster! We tried one more gig after that and it was over like a bad marriage. Bands of the Day: Sir Douglas Quintet Or The Pharaohs The Markays Sweet Smoke Chains Pueblio and the Valiants Sunny Ozuna and the Sunliners Or Sunglows The Trochais AKA the Ackeroyd Brothers Us Denny Ezba Shiva's Head Band The band with no Name who knew 3 Songs: Ronnie,Homer,Rudy,Roger and Tommy (Mr. tambourine) Clubs: Love Street Light Circus and the Feel Good Machine Green Gate Purple Onion Teen Town (in Highland Park) Pool Hall on North Presa (many a school day spent there) Restaurants: The Flame Griff's on Pleasanton Rd. Bud Jones Bob Jones Pan American Running Bear Captain Jim's Bill Miller's The Little Grill on Military Drive near Thom McAnn's Shoes Rexall Drug Store Corner of Military and Pleasanton Rd. Floyd's Burger's I went by there many years later and tried to have a chat with good old Floyd because he was getting ready to retire, and after a few words with him, I realized, dear old Floyd had flipped one too many burgers! He wa...Expand for more