Augusta Mayor earns Governor’s Hometown Health Hero Award
Williams is fourth Kansas “hero” to be recognized

Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced today, Kristey Williams, mayor of Augusta, will receive Kansas’ fourth Hometown Health Hero Award.

Williams will be honored at 7 p.m., Thursday October 4, in Augusta. The award recognition will take place at the Augusta High School football stadium during the community’s annual homecoming celebration.

Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will present the award on behalf of the Governor.

“Mayor Williams embodies the Kansas ‘can do’ spirit through her efforts to make positive changes in her community,” Governor Sebelius said in announcing the award winner. “Her leadership is a great gift to her community and our state.”

The Governor’s Council on Fitness established the Hometown Health Hero Award in support of the Healthy Kansas initiative. The Governor and the council seek to recognize the efforts of individuals across the state that have either had a significant impact upon their community or a great personal achievement in the areas of physical activity, promoting healthy diets, or working to prevent tobacco use in Kansas.

An Augusta native, Williams teaches aerobics and fitness classes and encourages residents to be activity in local running events of which she helps women train for. Last Christmas, she organized a holiday party that involved walking through Augusta neighborhoods instead of the usual holiday party centering on eating.

In spring 2002, Williams raised more than $130,000 to create Play Park Point, a community park that encourages physical activity opportunities for Augusta youth and families. Under Williams’ leadership, the park was constructed in six days as community residents and businesses donated time, equipment and materials to complete the project.

In June 2006, Williams spearheaded another Augusta revitalization project, ‘Save Our State Street’ (S.O.S.).   S.O.S. worked to improve the appearance and accessibility of downtown Augusta through a $1.5 million Kansas Department of Transportation grant and by raising $200,000 for the project.

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