Orlando, Florida Local News
City of Orlando celebrates life of Magic co-founder Pat Williams
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Family and colleagues gathered on Friday to celebrate the life of Orlando Magic’s co-founder Pat Williams. On July 18, Williams’ family made the tragic announcement that he had died from complications with pneumonia. Williams was remembered at his Celebration of Life at First Baptist Church of Orlando not only as a sports icon but also as a loving father, grandfather, and husband.RELATED: Orlando Magic play-by-play announcer remembers Pat WilliamsOn Friday, the Williams family thanked the public for their support. They were gracious and understood how important Williams was not only to them but also to the entire greater Orlando area.”He was my darling my sweetheart my love the sweetest kindest man in the world,” his wife Ruth said via a video played at the service.”I had no idea how being born to Pat Williams would shape my life and allow me to grow up with a completely different perspective than anyone else I knew,” his daughter Karyn Williams added.The service played a video where some from the magic team shared their goodbyes and how Pat Williams impacted so many of them.”That’s the man, Pat Williams, who got it all started for me,” said Nick Anderson, Former Orlando Magic Player. “” Just a special guy in my heart. He’s like a second father to me. He gave my career the start, and I owe so much to him”Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer read a proclamation at the service declaring July 26 as a day the city will forever remember Pat Williams.Williams’ family said he would read at least one book a day, and after the service, folks were invited to come down here to look at more than 20,000 books that he donated to the First Baptist Church of Orlando. The books are all from his personal library. Williams’ family said he was the author of more than 100 books. Williams was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Orlando. He is survived by his wife Ruth, 19 children, 14 of whom they adopted from around the world, and 20 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the Williams family asks that gifts be sent to the First Academy athletics program. Gifts can be donated online or in person on Bruton Boulevard. DONATE: Contribute to the First Academy athletics program Williams spent more than 50 years working around the NBA. A majority of that time was spent working to establish and build the Magic right here in Orlando. In recent years, he fought to bring the Orlando Dreamers and Major League Baseball to Central Florida.His service on Friday afternoon was open to the public.
Family and colleagues gathered on Friday to celebrate the life of Orlando Magic’s co-founder Pat Williams.
On July 18, Williams’ family made the tragic announcement that he had died from complications with pneumonia.
Williams was remembered at his Celebration of Life at First Baptist Church of Orlando not only as a sports icon but also as a loving father, grandfather, and husband.
RELATED: Orlando Magic play-by-play announcer remembers Pat Williams
On Friday, the Williams family thanked the public for their support. They were gracious and understood how important Williams was not only to them but also to the entire greater Orlando area.
“He was my darling my sweetheart my love the sweetest kindest man in the world,” his wife Ruth said via a video played at the service.
“I had no idea how being born to Pat Williams would shape my life and allow me to grow up with a completely different perspective than anyone else I knew,” his daughter Karyn Williams added.
The service played a video where some from the magic team shared their goodbyes and how Pat Williams impacted so many of them.
“That’s the man, Pat Williams, who got it all started for me,” said Nick Anderson, Former Orlando Magic Player. “” Just a special guy in my heart. He’s like a second father to me. He gave my career the start, and I owe so much to him”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer read a proclamation at the service declaring July 26 as a day the city will forever remember Pat Williams.
Williams’ family said he would read at least one book a day, and after the service, folks were invited to come down here to look at more than 20,000 books that he donated to the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
The books are all from his personal library. Williams’ family said he was the author of more than 100 books.
Williams was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
He is survived by his wife Ruth, 19 children, 14 of whom they adopted from around the world, and 20 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the Williams family asks that gifts be sent to the First Academy athletics program. Gifts can be donated online or in person on Bruton Boulevard.
DONATE: Contribute to the First Academy athletics program
Williams spent more than 50 years working around the NBA. A majority of that time was spent working to establish and build the Magic right here in Orlando.
In recent years, he fought to bring the Orlando Dreamers and Major League Baseball to Central Florida.
His service on Friday afternoon was open to the public.
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