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Donald L Williams
Person of the Month

by Moni Tucker

A day to be remembered...and one that should be added to the El Paso's history books. The El Paso Democrats hosted their annual Democratic Hall of Fame Banquet on Sunday, December 2, 2007.  Special guest Keynote Speaker was Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, 110th Congress.  Held at the El Paso Marriott Hotel, the banquet offered an enlightening experience and obvious truth…everyone in El Paso is running for Sheriff!  From Mayor John Cook to Congressman Silvestre Reyes, everyone in attendance was afforded the opportunity to hear from Congressman Hoyer and witness one of our own accept his induction into the El Paso Democratic Hall of Fame.

Aside from meeting individuals running for various offices within the city, the highlight of the evening was when local attorney and Visiting Associate Family Court Judge Mr. Donald Williams, was presented as one of four El Paso Democrats inducted into the EP Democratic Hall of Fame.  Many were not surprised that Mr. Williams received this honor due to his extensive work as Chair of the Black El Paso Democrats and as a faithful and unrelenting member of the Democratic Party.  As stated in the history of the Black El Paso Democrats (BEPD), Mr. Williams is unapologetically Black and proud to be a voice of hope and encouragement amongst his peers. 

Don has made a colossal difference within the community by motivating other black men and women to become active and start making positive differences instead of negative excuses.  Don is often sought after as a speaker to encourage Elementary, Middle and High School students to stay in school and succeed in life.  Though it is apparent that he is in the public eye, his effectiveness to increase the awareness of the importance of the black vote can only be attributed to his humbleness brought about by his love for God, loyalty to his family and sincere fellowship with his fellow laborers in Christ.  His buoyant attitude and enthusiastic approach in mobilizing others to be an active and vital part of the voting process is noted amongst several El Pasoans regardless of race. 

His unrelenting tenacity to bring his fellow man to a forward way of thinking has become the key element in why several Black El Pasoans have changed their negative resolve about becoming registered voters.  His political aim is to bring factions together to accomplish interests of mutual concern.  Many Black El Pasoans including those new to the city by way of the military have become more concerned about the state of politics in our city, state and country.  Mr. Donald Williams is advocating forward thinking in a forward moving society. 

Born in Houston, Don is a 1969 graduate of Burges High School.  In no way a rookie to the wonderful world of movers and shakers, Don began his trek into politics by being the first Black Student Body President of Burges High School.  Don was accepted to and attended the United States Military Academy at West Poin, he is a 1973 graduate of UTEP with a B.A. in Political Science and a 1975 graduate of UT Austin School of Law. 

To many, he is a confidant, a friend, an admirer of positive movement for people of all races and most of all a dear and loyal leader within the El Paso community.  He is not only the first Black Judge in the history of El Paso County, Texas, he is the only Black serving in any judicial capacity in the city today.  He is the originator of House Bill 930 that amended Texas Family Code, §201.007, 2007.  A Charter Member of the Black El Paso Democrats, Mr. Williams’ accolades are numerous.  He is Past President, Theta Delta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., currently serves as a Visiting Associate Family Court Judge, 65th District Court and is a Solo-Practitioner, Law Offices of Donald L. Williams.

Biographical Sketch:
PLACE OF BIRTH: Houston, Texas
DATE OF BIRTH: May 22, 1951
MARITAL STATUS: Married, Ruth Garcia-Ybarra Williams
FAMILY: Three Children

HIGH SCHOOL
  • Attended Bitburg American High School, Bitburg, Germany
  • Graduated 1969, W. H. Burges High School, El Paso, Texas
  • National Honor Society
  • Sophomore and Junior Class President
  • Winner School Talent Show (3 consecutive years)
  • Student Council Representative
  • President, Stamp Out Stupidity (SOS) (an anti-drug abuse organization)
  • 1st place Europe-Oratorical Contest
  • 1st in District, Regional, and 2nd in State Speech Tournament (Texas)
  • J. V. Basketball
  • Varsity Wrestling (Europe)
  • First African-American Student Body President, William H. Burges High School, El Paso, Texas.

  • COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
  • Appointed to and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, 1969
  • Attended and Graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, BA, Political Science, El Paso, Texas, 1973
  • Attended and Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Austin, Texas. December, 1975


ACTIVITIES-COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
  • Army ROTC, Distinguished Military Student and Graduate.
  • Student Senate, Resident Assistant, Inter-Club Council, Assistant Dorm Director, Black Student Union
  • President, Vice President, Dean of Pledges, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Kappa Chapter
  • UTEP, Outstanding Alpha of the Year (National) 71-72, 72-73
  • Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, 71-72, 72-73
  • First African-American President, UTEP Student Government Association, 1972-1973
  • Top Ten Seniors, UTEP, 1973
  • Men and Women of Mines, UTEP, 1973
  • Featured in book Coattailess Landslide by UTEP Professor, Dr. Joseph Ray (President Emeritus)
  • Recipient, Public Administration Internship Scholarship
  • Served on various University Faculty-Student Committees


LAW SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
  • President, Thurgood Marshall Legal Society
  • Director, Project Info-Law (Minority Recruitment)
  • Law School Representative to the University Student Senate
  • Board Member, Law School Student Association
  • Member, Admissions Committee
  • Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities
  • Intern, Good Neighbor Commission
  • Intern, Department of Defense Legal Internship Program

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT
  • Assistant County Attorney, Travis County, Austin, Texas, 1975-76
  • U.S. Army JAG Corps, 1977-83
  • Regular Army Commission
  • Officer-in-Charge of Legal Center, Gelnhausen, Germany
  • Senior Defense Counsel, Fort Bliss, Texas, 1980-83
  • Instructor, University of Maryland (European Division), Paralegal Program,1979-80
  • Owner, Williams Enterprises, an Interactive Distribution Company powered by QUIXTAR,
  • Instructor, Legal Assistant Division, El Paso Community College, 1986-1992
  • Advanced Family Law Mediator, 1994-Current
  • Associate Municipal Court Judge El Paso, Texas, 1992-95
  • Criminal Law Magistrate, El Paso County, Texas, 1995
  • Associate Family Court Judge, El Paso County, Texas, 1995-99
  • Visiting Associate Family Court Judge, 65th District Court, Current
  • Solo-Practitioner, Law Offices of Donald L. Williams, Current


PAST/PRESENT/PROFESSIONAL/COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/AFFILIATIONS
  • Charter Member, St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church
  • Charter Member, Black El Paso Democrats
  • Former President, Pebble Hills Elementary PTA
  • Former Chair, Board of Trustees, St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church
  • Member State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association, National Bar Association,
  • El Paso Bar Association, Lawrence A. Nixon Bar Association,
  • Mexican-American Bar Association
  • Former Sub-Committee Chair, El Paso Bar Fee Dispute Committee
  • Member, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, State Bar of Texas & El Paso Bar Association
  • Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar Grievance Professional Enhancement Program
  • Lecturer, El Paso Bar Association, Family Law Seminar
  • Speaker, Texas State Legal Secretaries Association
  • Speaker, El Paso Legal Assistants Association
  • Speaker,  70th Ordnance Battalion. Prayer Breakfast
  • Speaker, 11th ADA Brigade, Offsite
  • Speaker, La Tuna Federal Prison
  • Speaker, Joint Task Force Six
  • Speaker, Martin Luther King Celebration, Ft. Bliss, Texas
  • Speaker, El Paso Inter-Club Council, Juneteenth Heritage Breakfast
  • Speaker, ADA 552, Domestic Violence Prevention
  • Speaker, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Biggs Field
  • Speaker, Texas Health Information Management Association Workshops
  • Speaker, El Paso Interpreters and Translators Association
  • Speaker, Junior League Court Link
  • Speaker, Asociacion Lideres Mexicanos Americanos (ALMA)
  • Speaker, University of Texas at El Paso, Student Government Association Induction
  • Speaker, University of Texas at El Paso Honors Council Induction
  • Speaker, Border Patrol, El Paso Sector
  • Domestic Violence Prevention Commission
  • United Way Allocations Committee
  • Chairman, Executive Committee, Family Law Bar Association 2006, 2007
  • Executive Committee, Family Law Bar Association, 1995-99, 2002-2007
  • Past President, Theta Delta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
  • Outstanding Young Men of America, 1982
  • Recipient, UTEP Black Student Image Award, 1983
  • Co-Chair, (YES) Youth Enrichment Seminar, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
  • Graduate, Leadership El Paso, Class 10, 1987-1988
  • Board of Managers-Casa Blanca Therapeutic Communities, Inc.
  • Board of Directors, Leadership El Paso Alumni Association
  • Leadership El Paso Curriculum Committee
  • University of Texas El Paso Commission 2001, Leadership Committee
  • Board of Directors, UT El Paso Alumni Association 1995-97
  • Board of Directors-Junior Achievement of the Desert Southwest
  • Advisory Council, El Paso Community College, Legal Assistant Program
  • YWCA, Advisory Council, Helping Children Cope With Divorce and ROLLERCOASTERS
  • Candidate, 388th Judicial District Court, 1999
  • Course Director, Family Law 101 Seminar, El Paso Family Law Bar Association, 1999
  • Co-Course Director, Family Law Seminar, Family Law Bar Association, 2000
  • Planning Committee, Presenter, Family Law On the Border, 2001 and 2004, 2006
  • Planning Committee, Presenter, Amicus/ Attorney Ad Litem/ Guardian Ad Litem Seminar, 2006
  • Panelist, Attorney Ad Litem/Guardian Ad Litem Seminar, 2002
  • Presiding Officer, University of Texas School of Law-CLE- Family Law and the Military, 2005
  • Moderator and Presenter, 2003 Pro Bono Seminar, State Bar of Texas
  • President, El Paso Family Law Bar Association, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Presenter, State Bar of Texas, Texas Minority Attorney Program, 2006
  • Course Director, Family Law and the Military, 2003 & 2007
  • Presenter, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute Boot Camp 2007
  • Course Director, Family Law 201, Effective Practice Before the EP Family Courts, 2007
  • Panelist, Military Law Update, State Bar of Texas Webcast, 2007
  • Originator of House Bill 930 that Amended Texas Family Code, §201.007, 2007
  • Silver Life Member, National NAACP, 2007
  • 1st Recipient, President’s Award, El Paso Branch NAACP 2007
  • Inductee, El Paso County Democratic Party Hall of Fame, 2007
  • Chair, El Paso Branch NAACP, Political Action Committee, 2005-Present
  • Celebrity, “Papeleros With a Purpose”, LULAC Project Amistad, 2007
  • Outstanding Community Service Award, Phillips Chapel, 2007
  • Outstanding Citizenship Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 1992
  • Outstanding Church and Community Service Award, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, 1992
  • Lawrence A. Nixon Judicial Achievement Award, 1992
  • Black El Paso Democrats' Outstanding Community Service Award, 1992
  • Grand Marshal, El Paso Black History Month Parade, 1993
  • Who's Who Worldwide, 1992-1993, 1994-1995
  • National Directory of Who's Who of Executives & Professionals, 1996-97
  • Continental Who’s Who Registry, Millennium Edition, 2001-2002
  • Member, El Paso Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Vice Chair/Chair, UT El Paso, Thelma White Network, 1997-2000, 2000-2003
  • Chair, Black El Paso Democrats, 2005-Present
  • Speaker, Project Alpha, A Man to Man Talk About Teen Pregnancy
  • Featured in book, African-AmericanAchievers Making History on the Border in El Paso, Texas by Ethel Toliver-Kindred
  • Honorary Member and Inductee, University of Texas at El Paso Honors Council, 1998
  • University Of Texas at El Paso Strategic Planning General Education Study Group
  • 411 News Unity Award, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999
  • Committee to Establish the R.E.L. Washington Elementary School, 2000
  • Committee to Establish the Chester E. Jordan Elementary School, 2007
  • Established, The Donald L. Williams Endowed Student Enhancement Fund, UTEP, 2006

Website: www.DonaldLWilliams.com




Attorney, Businessman, Community Leader
Donald L. Williams
Black El Paso Democrats' Chair Mr. Donald L. Williams interview on FoxNews26 Houston
Mr. Williams fought at the State Convention to get the only El Paso Obama National Delegate position elected in Senatorial District #29. Click the photo to right below to view the interview with Fox26 and click below to view his argumentfor the national vote.
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