Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992 TAG: 9201220337
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELANIE S. HATTER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OSCAR WILLAMS
When he's not getting paid to train volunteers, he fights racism. He's president of the Montgomery County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, recently became vice president of the state NAACP, and helped organize a hate-crimes seminar for New River Valley law enforcement officers.\ NAME: Oscar M. Williams.
\ AGE: 50.
\ RESIDENCE: Christiansburg.
\ HOMETOWN: Boligee, Ala.
\ WHERE EDUCATED: Bachelor's degree, Alabama A&M University; master's degree, Tuskegee University; doctorate in education, Virginia Tech.
\ MARITAL STATUS: Divorced.
\ CHILDREN: Three daughters, Courtney, 12 1/2; Jacinda, 20; Otilla, 24.
\ OCCUPATION: Director of leadership and development in the Center for Volunteer Development at Tech.
\ IF YOU WEREN'T THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER BE? Probably connected with a ministry, not necessarily a Christian ministry, but one offering service to humankind.
\ WHAT'S THE WORST JOB YOU EVER HAD? "I've never had any bad job that pays. My worst experience was coming through the doctoral program because of the politics involved in coming through the system."
\ WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY? Working on a doctorate at Tech. But he also had a "sneaky craving" to see how a mostly white university relates to poor whites. "Sad to say it doesn't relate well," he said. Low-income whites are treated almost the same as blacks, he said. However, "I commend [Tech President] McComas for his public service thrust."
\ WHEN NOT WORKING, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO? "Practice perfecting my profession" and bass fishing.
\ WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT LIVING HERE? "I like the people. Public officials and administrators of government here have a greater openness to cultural diversity and the impact of that diversity on the community." He also likes the changing seasons.
\ LEAST? "That there's not more black education professionals in Tech and at Radford University to provide role models for white and black students."
\ FAVORITE SPOT IN THE NEW RIVER VALLEY: He's still looking for it - a lake well-stocked with bass.
\ WHAT CHANGE WOULD MOST IMPROVE THE VALLEY? "A greater source of jobs. Environmentally conscious industries that won't destroy the natural beauty of the valley."
\ WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE? "I would have to think long and hard to find somewhere else right now."
\ WHAT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU? Learning that "lemonade is made up of the lemons of life. It's not all been good, but I've learned to make lemonade."
\ WORST? "Not having my children grow up with me."
\ WHAT'S THE SMARTEST THING YOU EVER DID? "I don't know if I've ever done anything smart. Maybe to associate with folks smarter than me."
\ DUMBEST? "It's hard to nail it down to one particular thing."
\ WHAT'S YOUR WORST HABIT? "Failing to prepare adequately for my own financial future."
\ WHAT BUGS YOU THE MOST? Obnoxious people.