Mr. Hoyt Speaks to Veterans on 96th Birthday

On Saturday November 9th at 1 p.m. the Town of Trion will hold it’s Veterans Day Program at 210 Simmons Street. The keynote speaker for this year’s program will be World War II Veteran, Mr. Hoyt Williams.

November 9th is a special day for Mr. Hoyt, it will be his 96th birthday.

Hoyt Williams was born on November 9, 1923 in Trion, Georgia. He graduated Trion High School in 1942, and joined the Army to serve in World War II.

Mr. Hoyt served as an Army engineer in both the European and South Pacific Campaigns during World War II, serving in both campaigns is rare. He arrived in Normandy eighteen days after D-Day. His job in the Army as an engineer was to provide heavy equipment and supplies for the troops located on the front line.

When he returned to the States, he wasn’t quite ready for civilian life yet and he caught the next troop train to Seattle en route for the Philippines, where he remained until Japan surrendered in September of 1945.

After returning home from the war, for good, Mr. Hoyt took over his Father’s supermarket in Trion in 1948 and ran the store for the next forty years.

Mr. Hoyt also continued his service to the community by being a founding member of the water board for the Chattooga County District.

Mr. Hoyt served on the Trion School Board for two terms as chairman, the Trion City Council for 16 years before being elected Mayor of Trion.

Mr. Hoyt Williams will tell you the secret to living a long time is to work every day. While he doesn’t recall his exact age at the time he began his first job, he knows as soon as he was able to work he went to work as a paper route boy.

After running a supermarket for 40 years attempted retirement, but that proved to be boring, “I was tired of mowing the lawn… it was time for me go back to work, Walmart said they could put me to work even though I was old and they did,” Williams said. He has worked for Walmart for the last 26 years.

About Trion’s Veterans Day Program: 

The program will be led by Probate Judge Jon Payne and Trion’s Mayor Larry Stansell will welcome the audience. The Greater Rome Georgia Young Marines will present the colors and raise the flags. Following that, Trion Harvest Center pastor Phillip Minter will say a prayer, and Charlie Long will lead the crowd in the National Anthem.

Navy Petty Office Third Class Levi Thomas will the lead the Pledge of Allegiance.