Pat Williams

He was born in 1940 and raised in Wilmington, Delaware by parents who taught their kids to play hard, work harder, and serve others. His first love was baseball. His skills earned him a baseball scholarship to Wake Forest University where he lettered three years and earned a spot in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame. At age twenty-two he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies where he played two seasons as a minor league catcher before hanging up his cleats and taking his work ethic to their front office. Within three short years Pat Williams went from business manager to president.

Since 1968 Pat has worked as an executive in the National Basketball Association. In the late eighties he co-founded the Orlando Magic, where he continues to serve as senior Vice President.

He and his wife Ruth are the proud parents of 19 children, 14 of which are adopted from other nations. Along with his remarkable sports’ accomplishments, Pat has written forty-eight books!

This highly sought after motivational and inspirational speaker hosts a weekly sports radio show and enjoys teaching Sunday school at First Baptist Church Orlando. Somehow he’s also managed to complete forty-two marathons, climb Mount Rainer, and remain active in baseball by playing catcher each winter during Florida’s Dream Week games. It’s hard to imagine how he fits it all in, but I suspect he is aided by the humorous outlook that marks his reputation.

In today’s All Things Southern Quote we look back at an observation of his from one of the Magic’s leaner years. Pat Williams once said, “We can’t win at home. We can’t win on the road. As general manager, I just can’t figure out where else to play.”

~Shellie