Birthday party depicts highlights of Williams' life

It’s been a long-standing tradition for Casa del Mar employees to celebrate Manager D. M. Williams’ birthday.
Each year they come up with a different theme. This year, to celebrate Williams’ 79th birthday Jan. 29, it was “This is your life.”

The staff raided Williams’ collection of old photos in order to make large, pictorial signs carried by residents.
Guests also read speeches, which noted the cost of a loaf of bread in 1931 (Williams’ birth year) was eight cents. A gallon of gas back then was just 10 cents.

Over the years of Williams’ life, it was noted that instant coffee was introduced, Playboy magazine debuted and the first McDonald’s appeared in 1955.

A glimpse of Williams’ life found him in the Army in 1951. He later opened several businesses and clubs and was manager of the Sands Hotel, in Abilene, Texas. In 1981 he became manager of Casa del Mar.

In 1985, he and his partner, Rosie Turner, clogged their way to first prize in the Manatee County Fair talent show and later clogged around the world.

Taking part in the program were Mark Meador, Jeanette Frint, Jean Duffy, Holly Baran, Millie Kossmann and Joni Von Schweinitz.

As usual, the party ended with everyone sharing a piece of Williams’ birthday cake.

Contact Dora Walters at [email protected].