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Brian Williams of Florrissant at work at the Howdershell McDonald’s. He has worked there 20 years.

(Special to the Independent News)

Brian Williams, who has Downs Syndrome,  is  celebrating  his 20th anniversary working at McDonalds  at 6270   Howdershell in Hazelwood on Dec. 10.  He has been an employee  there longer than anyone else even the boss!

Although he really likes his bosses  Mark Hellmuth and his wife Sheri, Brian says one day he wants to be the manager “just like Mr. Mark,” the owner.  Brian aka known as  “Speedy Gonzales” has customers who come in and look just for him. They say  the floors and tables are always so clean.

Brian really enjoys going to work,, loves his job and always looks forward to payday, according toi his mother Maureen Williams. ” He himself gives the nickname Mr. Big Bucks!”

He was in the second class of McJobs graduates in 1989 and is the only remaining worker from his class. During his 20 years at McDonalds, he probably hasn’t missed  more than five days. The only time he is off is when he is participating in a Special Olympic event or  PGA Golf Tournaments. He is always concerned as to who will be doing his job while he is gone, said his mom. ” A lot of customers come to his McDonalds, because he is there,” said Maureen Williams.

Brian has been involved in Special Olympics since he was 10 years old and has become quite the athlete. Brian represented Missouri in the Special Olympic World Games in Alaska in 2001. He competed against 85 countries and received two silver medals and a 4th place ribbon in the downhill races, slalom and giant slalom.

He has also participated in the PGA invitational golf tournaments five times. He played 9-hole individual in Nashville, San Diego and Port St. Lucie, Fla. He now plays 18-hole unified partners with his favorite uncle Michael Burke and has played in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Brian is the pitcher on his Special Olympic slow pitch softball team, where he has developed quite a variety of pitches including a  screwball and curveball and once again came home with the gold medal in the area, district and state tournaments this year.

Brian is  also an Eagle Scout in the Special Needs Troop 748 and also is a member in the Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. He has also received two scholarships for private lessons in snow skiing two years in a row to attend the National sports center for the disabled in Denver,

Brian also belonged to the Jamestown New Horizons therapeutic horsemanship program for about 15 years and was always in the Thanksgiving Day Parade downtown and appearing in the Valley of the Flowers parade in Florissant. He would ride one of his favorite horses, Eric, actually stood up on the horse as they made their way down the parade routes.

With all of Brian’s involvement in extra-curricular activities, he also manages to hold down a second  job at the Barrett Station Golf Practice Center in Fenton, MO. two days a week.  In his “spare time” he likes to dance. There are many scheduled dance events and family parties in which Brian is the Leader of the Pack, his mother reports. ” He will be the one in the middle of the circle with everyone clapping & encouraging him on,” said Marreen. Most recently, Brian was invited to a prom hosted by Albert Pujols.

Brian will be arriving at work in his favorite form of transportation a Limo and a Hummer at that.  He will be joined there with family and friends and would love to meet you to just say “Hello”.

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