Hays Nature Preserve memorializes Huntsville’s James Gordon Williams with new fishing pier

The newest feature at the scenic Hays Nature Preserve was officially unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Tuesday and is set to provide new fishing opportunities as soon as this week.

Along with bringing additional entertainment to Hays Nature Preserve, the James Gordon Williams Pier will memorializes a former employee of the Hays family and allows James Williams to give back to the community in the way he wanted.

Williams was a long-time Huntsville resident who passed away at the age of 90 in 2023.

Thanks to his attorney, Christine Hinson, who helped manage and execute his estate, the Hays family was able to honor his legacy by adhering to the specific details of his final wishes.

Hinson spoke about Williams during the ceremony, connecting the Williams, the new pier, and the bond between the two.

“Mr. Williams was 90 years old when he passed away. He had been a longtime resident and he knew he wanted to give back to the community,” Hinson explained. “And when we were preparing, he was very clear that he wanted to benefit charitable organizations. However, the only one that he specifically named was Hays Nature Preserve because he had worked for the Hays family for almost 50 years. And so he pledged the money for this new pier so that he could ensure that happened. I hope this is an indication of what others may do for our community.”

Along with Hinson, Jim Hays was on hand to pay his respects to his friend and business colleague of over 60 years. Hays made sure all those in attendance knew why this memorialization was so important.

“When I started to get in the building business, I had already known James for 15 years. So it was easy for me to go to James and tell him, ‘I have no idea how I can achieve what I want to do here without somebody like you who understands the numbers’,” Hays recalled.

His call for help obviously didn’t fall on deaf ears.

“James took me under his wing and for the next 50 years, he handled all the money that went through our hands. He was also instrumental in the formation of this entire park. He was in the negotiations, produced the numbers, and everything else that made this thing really work. As far as I’m concerned, I can’t say enough about James Williams. He and I used to come to these trails, and James would talk about leaving some of his legacy here. Even though he’s gone today, his memory was a guiding light in my life and in the lives of so many other people,” remarked Hays.

Between Jim Hays, Mayor Battle, and others, it was clear that while the fishing pier specifically memorializes James Williams, it represents much more.

When the driving force behind Hays Farms and one of “Huntsville’s Prime Legacy Families” admits that he was only confident enough to start his path when someone like Williams was by his side, the magnitude of his contributions to the Rocket City clearly outweighs the gift of $80,000 he gave for the pier’s construction.

It wouldn’t take long for people to notice his name either.

The day after the ceremony, the new pier was home to the fourth annual Fishing for Fun Day at Hays Nature Preserve.

And though his accomplishments might never be realized to their fullest extent, those who knew him best have ensured that James Gordon Williams’ name will always be acknowledged in the one place he most wanted.