George Abie Williams is a founding member and chairman of the Radford High School (RHS) Foundation since 1986. The RHS Foundation supports the education system in Radford through scholarship grants for deserving RHS students, including 15 different scholarships. One scholarship is the Dana Palmer Endowment, named after a former RHS student-athlete who died of cancer in 2001. Despite his short stature, Palmer was a star football player and maintained a kind demeanor. The Dana Palmer Endowment honors senior student-athletes with great character who may otherwise not be able to afford continuing their education.

1. RHS FOUNDATION HONORS
FORMER STUDENT-ATHLETE

2. A respected member of the Radford, VA business and professional
communities, financial advisor George Abie Williams serves Stifel Nicolaus
as senior vice president/investments. George Abie Williams is also active in
community work around Radford, VA. He is a founding member of the
Radford High School (RHS) Foundation, where he also has served as
chairman since 1986.

3. A nonprofit organization, RHS Foundation was established to support and
enhance the already successful education system in Radford. One of the ways
the organization does this is through scholarship grants given to deserving
Radford High School students. At present, RHS Foundation has 15 different
scholarship grants, one of which is the Dana Palmer Endowment.
The Dana Palmer Endowment is an annual grant named in honor of Dana
Palmer, a student-athlete who died in 2001 after losing a battle with cancer. The
endowment is given to a Radford High School student-athlete who
demonstrates the very character of Dana Palmer: “great attitude, courage,
kindness, school spirit, and community service.”
Standing just 5-foot-3-inches tall, Palmer earned the nickname “Smurf,” but he
was a giant on the football field. His school records of 3,245 yards and 44
touchdowns speak volumes about his achievements on the playing field. Despite
his athletic accomplishments, Palmer maintained a polite and kind demeanor.

4. After school, Palmer served the Montgomery
County Sheriff’s Department as deputy sheriff.
Later, he was promoted to sergeant. Palmer was
known for treating those in his custody very
well. All he saw was the good in the person,
even those under his watch.
The Dana Palmer Endowment is fueled by the
desire to honor senior student-athletes with
outstanding character, but who might otherwise
drop out of school for lack of financial support.
The endowment is now in its 15th year.