Excellence in PR Jim Williams
Jim Williams
Jim Williams’ career as a journalist and a member of racetrack management spans more than four decades. A sportswriter at The Lexington Herald while attending college, he joined Keeneland in 1971 and retires at the end of this year after more than 38 years with the company.
Williams succeeded J.B. Faulconer as Keeneland’s Director of Publicity in November, 1971 and, ultimately, assumed the title of Director of Communications for the Central Kentucky based Thoroughbred race course and auction company. He has worked under three company presidents—Ted Bassett, Bill Greely and current CEO Nick Nicholson.
In this position, Williams has overseen the advertising, communications and corporate identity for Keeneland’s racing, auction sales and simulcasting, serving as the company’s spokesperson. During his tenure, he has witnessed the emergence of Keeneland as a world leader in both racing and sales while watching the growth and revitalization of almost the entire facility.
At the urging of a friend, Williams pursued a part-time job in The Herald’s sports department as a teenager. Eventually, he would become the newspaper’s racing writer, covering such events as the Keeneland race meetings and the 1965 Kentucky Derby won by Lucky Debonair with the legendary Willie Shoemaker aboard.
While mixing work at The Herald and seasonal stints at Monmouth Park racetrack in New Jersey, Williams attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1971 with a B.A. in Journalism.
A native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to Lexington in 1958. He still resides in Lexington with his wife of 36 years, Lynn. They have two children, a son Kelly, who is married to the former Lindsay Rurik, and daughter Ashley, who is married to David Onkst.
