A group of Natchez residents want the Natchez-Adams School District to remember the impact the late Coach Tom Williams had on local students.

&uot;Think about what he did for the community,&uot; said Eva Dunkley.

That’s why they asked the Natchez-Adams School Board to consider naming the Natchez High Football Stadium in his memory during Thursday’s regular board meeting.

Williams, who died Feb. 22, 1997, coached in the Natchez-Adams School District for more than 30 years often serving as a counselor and mentor to his students.

&uot;Those kids respected Tom Williams,&uot; Dunkley said.

&uot;I have to take my hat off to the Tom Williams of the world,&uot; said Natchez Aldermen James &uot;Ricky&uot; Gray said. &uot;If they name the stadium after him it will serve this whole community well.&uot;

Gray played basketball under Williams and he said Williams made every young person feel as if they were somebody.

&uot;The people that didn’t have a chance, he gave them a chance and it made a difference,&uot; Gray said.

The school board did not take any action on the matter last week.

Board President Kenneth Taylor said the board would have to take it under advisement because it has not discussed renaming the stadium.