Give to the Lt. Bruce Douglas Williams Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Fire Academy Students
Lt. Bruce Douglas Williams was a lieutenant with Lake Mary Fire Rescue prior to his retirement following a 47-year-long career of firefighting and EMS services with the city of Lake Mary and Seminole County. Bruce received a letter of appreciation from both President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis for achieving 47 years of service, one of the longest career firefighters in United States history. He passed away on Dec. 22, 2021.
No one loved being a firefighter and the brotherhood of the fire department more than he did. He consistently expressed his love for his career by advising others, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Bruce was also a member of the Masonic Lodge as a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Coette Club. He played softball for 30 years, pitching no-hitters, and semi-pro football for five years with the Orlando Guardians. He was a Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed spending time working out, working in the yard, golfing, offshore fishing, his golden retrievers, chocolate chip cookies, and spending as much time as he could with his three daughters.
Bruce was very passionate about giving back to his community. He received numerous awards and recognitions from civil organizations throughout Central Florida for his charity work with associations such as the NFL Players Association, Missing Children’s Center, and Hugz from Bugz. Bruce also developed the “Firefighter for a Day” program at the Lake Mary Fire Department to give children fighting cancer the chance to experience what it is like to be a firefighter.
To honor their father's lifelong service and continue his legacy through future generations of firefighters, Bruce's family has established the Lt. Bruce D. Williams Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Fire Academy Students to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in Seminole State's Fire Academy/EMT Combined Career Certificate program. The scholarship is open to all Florida residents, with a preference for students who have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and demonstrate financial need. All applicants must complete a survey on what drives them to be a firefighter.
Success Stories
As a child, Ronald dreamed of becoming either a baseball player or a firefighter. When his oldest brother died in 2018 from a heart aneurysm, Ronald didn't understand what an aneurysm was or why it cost his brother his life. From that moment on, Ronald knew that he wanted to learn as much as possible to help others and save lives. A cadet in Seminole State's EMT/Firefighter Combined program, Ronald plans to remain in Central Florida to serve his community after graduation.
"To be chosen for this scholarship is an absolute honor and a great financial help, because the Fire Academy requires full-time attendance and my funds are tight. I always go out and work hard to be great, and now I have a bigger reason to do so. Your support motivates me to push harder in the classroom and on the training grounds. Thank you for making it possible for me to realize my dream of saving lives."