CAST Visionary Passes Away

Dr. Benjamin Williams discusses launching CAST in this CAST documentary from 1994.

Another member of the team that founded CAST has passed away. Dr. Benjamin Williams, former principal of Julian Middle School, died on June 30, 2021, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina at the age of 87.

In a CAST documentary made in 1994, Dr. Williams talked about his dream of creating an afterschool performing arts program for Julian students:

"I knew that I was looking for something broader than just (performing) a play. At the core of this particular dream was children and their needs. We knew we needed to make learning real for children, and we knew that we wanted to make art part and parcel of the everyday classroom as well as the afterschool experience for the children of Julian."

Dr. Williams' dream came to pass in 1985 when he hired Michael and Jill Poehlman, professional actors, to create the CAST program. They helmed the program until 1997 when Bill McGlynn took over.

In the Wednesday Journal obituary for Dr. Williams, they recalled a 2010 interview with him in which he said, "I just wanted a good program that really respected children."

Bill McGlynn, current Program Director of CAST and a participant in the first year of the CAST program, speaks passionately on Dr. Williams' impact.

"The very fact we have a CAST program today is proof enough of the visionary leadership of Dr. Benjamin Williams, Julian Middle School's first principal. A real champion of the program, Dr. Williams defended CAST when it was a square peg that didn't fit into the round holes of normal school offerings. His concern did not end with his tenure as principal. He checked in and visited with CAST on all the 'even' anniversaries. He also gave us a very nice video interview for CAST's 25th year in 2010."

Thanks to Dr. Williams’ vision, CAST has been changing the lives of children for the past 36 years.

Read the Wednesday Journal obituary

Make a donation to CAST in Dr. Benjamin Williams’ memory here. Or use the CAST mail in form.