Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of FamerFrank Williams will welcome a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer to a longstanding charity golf outing this week.
Julius Erving, otherwise known as Dr. J, is scheduled to participate in the Williams Challenge Golf Tournament on Friday, June 5, at Good Park in Akron.
A former track and field and basketball star at East High School who also competed in both sports at the University of Akron, Williams, in 2000, launched the Williams Challenge, which provides APS students with scholarships in honor of his late wife, Kay, who died in 1983 of Lupus. An annual golf outing, which will celebrate its 26th year this week, aids the nonprofit organization’s mission.
In 2006, Williams started his Man 2 Man Fatherhood Initiative.
“We teach guys how to be fathers,” Williams, a retired skilled tradesman with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., told the Beacon Journal last year. “We teach them the blessings of being a father, that you can really raise a child and mold that child into a real good person and how important it is to be in a child’s life.”
Since its inception, the Williams Challenge has distributed more than $100,000, including $10,000 this year, in scholarships.
The golf tournament is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. It will include 18 holes of golf, cart access, lunch, prizes, raffles and additional activities. Proceeds from the golf outing directly support students pursuing higher education.
For sponsorship opportunities, registration or donations, visit williamschallenge.org or email williamschallenge1999@gmail.com.
Williams Challenge Golf Tournament information
- Date: Friday, June 5
- Time: 8 a.m. shotgun start
- Location: J. Edward Good Park Golf Course, 530 Nome Ave., Akron, 44320
- Dr. J meet and greet: 7:15-7:45 a.m. (limited availability)
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Julius Erving heads to Akron for Williams Challenge Golf Tournament