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Thomson City Administrator Don Powers presented the Small Business Person of the Year award to Ken Williams on Jan. 31, at the 40th annual membership banquet for the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce.
Williams is the president of Thomson Construction Supply Co. Inc., but he did not always work there. Williams grew up in College Park, just outside of Atlanta. He was one of two boys born to John and Marie Williams. Williams moved to Thomson in 1971, fresh out of the Army. He was drafted into the military after graduating from Wofford College. He served for two years, including one tour in Vietnam.
Williams moved to Thomson from Atlanta and took a job as a chemistry teacher at the local high school. While settling in Thomson, he met Kay Hughes, whom he later married. He lived in Thomson about three years before moving out of the area. He and his wife worked in teaching and administration in several places throughout the Southeast. He moved back a few years later and started working with his father-in-law.
Williams’ father-in-law, D. C. Hughes, Jr., was the owner of Thomson Construction Supply Co., which was founded in the 1940s. In 1978, he gave Williams the opportunity to run the business or he was planning to sell it.
Williams decided to give it a try. After about a year, Hughes decided to retire full-time and Williams took over as president of the company. Williams has run the business for three decades, with facilities as needed in Camak and Lincolnton and facilities with an office in Washington, in addition to the Thomson facilities.
Thomson Construction Supply is a ready-mix concrete company.
“We deliver concrete, we make it in those trucks with the big white drums on the back,” Williams said.
Williams said the company makes sidewalks, parking lots and interchanges.
“I was very surprised,” Williams said about receiving the award. “And very honored.”
Williams and his wife have three grown children, all of them boys.
Powers said he has known Williams for almost 40 yearsand he has been a great chamber member. He has been a long-time dues-paying member and a board member and is active in any place needed by the chamber.
He is also a member of his local church and has served in many leadership positions over the years, Powers said.
“He’s been a personal friend of mine and friends to many of you for over 30 years,” Powers said.
