BLANCHARD - Maj. Brent Williams, a former Norman resident, was a family man, caring friend and excellent U.S. Air Force officer,friends and colleagues said at his funeral this morning.

Williams, 37, died July 21 when the B-52 he was riding in crashed off the coast of Guam during a training exercise, killing all six airmen inside.

"He was an extraordinary leader and an extraordinary person," Lt. Col. Patrick Matthews said at the funeral at First Baptist Church of

Blanchard. Matthews was Williams' commanding officer and friend.

Williams was born Nov. 22, 1970, in Opelousas, La., to Sharon Ann and Edward Dale Williams. He graduated from Norman High School in 1989. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he joined the Air Force.

ROTC, graduating in 1994 with a degree in management information

systems. He was commissioned second lieutenant and went on to a "rich and diverse" 14-year career with the Air Force, Matthews said.

Williams was an instructor navigator in the Air Force. He is survived by his son, Border Williams; daughter Brooke Williams; mother Sharon Ann Williams of Midwest City; sister Wendy Eliopolo and her husband Lt. Col. John Eliopolo of Mt. Holly, N.J.; and grandparents Rufus and Margaret Staggs of Midwest City. He was preceded in death by his father Edward Williams, who died at age 47.

Matthews told the audience at the funeral about Williams' career, forming a picture of a young man who excelled at any post to which he was appointed. Williams was in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

"He was an integral part of the Secretary of Defense's immediate

action team," Matthews said.

Matthews read from the evaluations written by Williams' commanding officers over the years.

"Calm and cool under pressure," "Top 5 percent of all the officers I

know" and "He made his mark wherever he went" were only a few of the accolades.

"He was destined for great things in the Air Force, and he left us a

legacy of leadership and greatness for our officers that follow, and we will not forget what Brent has taught us," Matthews said.

You might look at those praises and think Matthews didn't have time for anything but his job, but friends and family said otherwise, said Rev. David Pickard, who officiated the funeral service.

"Brent put his family first, his friends second and his career simply fell into place," he said. Pickard did not know Williams personally,

but he interviewed his family and many friends and neighbors while he was preparing for the funeral. Pickard said all those who knew Williams described him as "like a brother."

"It seemed like everyone who came into contact with Brent Williams became a friend, some would say a brother," Pickard said.

One of Williams' neighbors said Williams became like a brother, mowing his lawn and taking out the trash for him when he was being treated for cancer. The neighbor said Williams loved to brag about his kids, Pickard said.

Williams, who was divorced, cared for his two children, Border, 10,

and Brooke, 13, and made them his No. 1 priority, friends and family told Pickard. In the slide show at the funeral, Williams was pictured repeatedly with one child on either side of him, their smiling faces beaming at the camera.

Another friend told Pickard Williams was first and foremost a dad.

"What a dad," Pickard said the friend said. "He's the man we'd all like to be."

Family said anyone who knew Williams also knew he loved OU football.

Williams' mother, Sharon, told Pickard Williams used to videotape

every OU football game growing up, and got really mad at her one time when she recorded over the video.

"Brent was happy, loved life and always wanted to be in the zest of life," his mother told Pickard.

That love for people is the greatest indicator of Williams'

relationship with God, Pickard said.

"I see the love of Christ radiating from his every fiber," Pickard

said. "He loved every one of you."

Pickard likened Williams' life to a comet.

"He came in with bright glory and quickly he's gone, but he left a lasting mark."

Julianna Parker

366-3541