HHD offers health services such as immunizations, dental and sexually transmitted disease testing, operates the city’s multiservice centers, inspects food establishments and swimming pools, and enforces outdoor and indoor air quality standards, according to the city’s website.
The backstory
Before joining HHD in 2004, Williams spent 24 years in public health leadership roles in both Maricopa County in Arizona and Travis County in Central Texas, Castillo said.
Castillo said that during Williams' time as director, he helped initiate a minimum wage for city employees, paved the way for Houston to become the first Texas city to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board in 2014 and helped launch My Brother’s Keeper, a program aimed at addressing inequitable conditions for the city’s youth, particularly boys and young men of color, by providing them the tools and information needed to be properly educated.
Williams said he could not have accomplished what he did as the director without his staff willing to follow his lead.
“He led HHD’s response to major emergencies, including Hurricane Katrina, Rita, Ike and Harvey,” Castillo said. “Delivering critical services such as shelters, health care, and warming and cooling centers.”
Quote of note
Williams said when he first came to Houston in 2004, he didn’t “particularly like Houston,” and expected to only work as the director for three and a half years.
“All I wanted to do was to prove to the folks in my field that I could actually keep a job,” Williams said.
However, he said his mindset changed as he continued to work in the city, calling the city a “fertile ground” for creativity and new ideas.
“This was a welcoming community,” Williams said. “People were really willing to listen to someone who had a different idea. It seems like even through every administration, we were able to create—it became intoxicating.”
Mayor John Whitmire presented Williams with a proclamation during the meeting and said that there are a lot of outstanding public servants who walk through City Hall, but none are more respected than Williams.
“If you Google public servant, you’ll see his picture,” Whitmire said. “On behalf of 2.3 million Houstonians, thank you for getting us through challenges. Whether it’s storms, measles epidemic or monkey virus, I can go on and on.”
Stay tuned
The mayor's Chief of Communications Mary Benton told Community Impact the mayor is in the process of choosing the next director, and that person who will fill Williams' position is expected to be introduced during the Sept. 10 City Council meeting.
