Skip to main content

Williams visits with constituents in Cleburne, Keene

May 31, 2019

From fields of bluebonnets to baseball fields, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, discussed some of his favorite pastimes and more while visiting constituents in Johnson County on Wednesday.

During his visit, Williams spent time at the Children's Advocacy Center of Johnson County in Cleburne, and Southwestern Adventist University and Chisholm Trail Estates Senior Living in Keene.

Williams said his favorite part of visiting his district is seeing the variety of the people who live in it.

"You know, our district is very diverse," he said. "All those people have different views, different issues. My favorite part is seeing those people, hearing what their issues are and at the end of the day, being able to fix an issue if we can get there and do that."

As a child, Williams said he never thought he'd grow up and be involved in politics, although he's always been interested.

"I never said I wanted to be a congressman, but I had parents who were very political," he said. "At an early age, they always took me with them when they went to vote and I watched the conventions on TV. I remember watching the Democratic Convention in ‘52 — Adlai Stevenson and [Dwight D.] Eisenhower. I always was interested in politics, and I wanted to get good people in politics. I just never thought it would be me."

A graduate of Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Williams said the city has welcomed a lot of growth.

"I saw something the other day that said Fort Worth is the 12 largest city," he said. "I've seen Fort Worth grow a lot, living there all my life.

"The good thing about Fort Worth is it has been able to keep its western heritage, its cowboy culture. Unlike some other cities that are just big cities now.

"Another thing that makes Fort Worth so good is the fact that people don't leave Fort Worth. You have third or fourth generations staying in Fort Worth with businesses and so forth, and that really makes it strong.

"Sometimes you say, ‘I wish that was still a bluebonnet field.' But growth is good when it's the right kind of growth, and under the leadership of Mayor Betsy Price they've done a really good job."

Growing up, Williams said baseball was all he ever wanted to do.

"My dad was throwing baseballs at me literally when I was 2 and 3 years old," he said. "I just loved the sport. I loved watching it and I knew who all the players were.

"As I got older and got into little league and so forth, I found out that I had ability to play the game. We just kept going to games all the time and I had tremendous support from my family. Baseball has just been a big part of my life, little league forward. And I've met a lot of good people through it."

On June 14, 2017, during a practice session for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia, a man opened fire toward a dozen men.

"It's affected me personally in reminding of the fact that God is in control and how precious life is," he said. "It'll change your view on things. It made things I used to get upset about —maybe politically or business wise — they're just not that important anymore. Everything can be fixed, and that's the way I look at it. There's no point in losing it over something."

Life of a congressman keeps Williams on the road, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I do miss home, but I'm still at the point where I can't wait to get to D.C. and I can't wait to come home," he said. "And I think that's good because I think if you have people who go up there and don't want to go home that's a real problem.

"We don't need up there forever; it's not a job, it's public service. I come home almost every single weekend to see my family. And I have a granddaughter, and when you don't see them for a week you notice the difference. They get a little bigger.

"President [George] Bush would always tells us about Washington and that no matter how tough things get up there, eventually all roads lead back home to Texas. And that's the way it should be."

While he's not at Capitol Hill, Williams said he likes to spend time being quiet.

"Being with my family and playing with my dogs," he said. "We're ranchers, too, in Parker County, so I love going home where it's quiet and you don't have to answer to anybody. You don't have to say anything."

Williams said he does have plans to run again after this term.

"People ask me how long I'm going to serve, and I want to serve until we make tax cuts permanent," he said. "Now, the deadline to make tax cuts permanent is 2025. I think I wouldn't be doing my district justice if I didn't fight to make those tax cuts permanent. So, that's my plan, but the Lord has a say in that."

After he's retired, Williams said he would love to stay in public service.

"I love public service," he said. "The thing about public service is you can't force yourself in it. People that want to be this or that and they try to force themselves in it — it never works. You have to be prepared for the door to be open.

"If there is a door open when I'm through being in Congress, then I'll take a look at it. If not, hey — life is great."