The Richard Williams Jr. Leadership Development Academy serves students in middle and high schools primarily from the Alcoa, Maryville, Blount County, and the entire Knoxville metropolitan area. Students from other regions have also participated in the Academy. The Academy is a youth development initiative supported by DENSO, Arconic, Walmart, local churches, and private donors, and is served by the Blount County Chamber Foundation, an organization under the Blount Partnership Chamber of Commerce.
The Academy was started in 2003 by George Williams to honor his late brother, Richard Williams, Jr.
The Board
Boyce Smith
General Manager, Walmart
Dorothy Ware
State Supervisor, Women’s Department, Church of God in Christ
Bob Booker
Chairman
Senior Manager, DENSO
Clarence B. Williams
Executive Director
Community Volunteer
Sanya Tingle
Transportation Coordinator, Arconic