Before Trent Williams became one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL, he was a Longview Lobo.
Now, the district where his story began is considering a proposal to permanently link one of Longview High School’s most accomplished graduates to a new facility built for future generations of students.
Longview ISD has opened a public input period on the proposed naming of the district’s new Multipurpose Indoor Facility as the Trent Williams Multipurpose Indoor Facility. The facility, currently under construction at Longview High School, is part of Longview ISD’s continued investment in student programs, athletics, extracurricular opportunities, and campus facilities.
Community members may submit feedback on the proposed naming through the district’s online survey.
Williams, a 2006 graduate of Longview High School, was a standout Lobo student-athlete before his name became known nationally. As a senior, he was a unanimous first-team All-District selection, earned All-East Texas and second-team All-State recognition, and helped lead Longview’s 2005 football team to a 10-0 regular season and district championship. He also competed in track and field as a shot putter before going on to play at the University of Oklahoma and being selected fourth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.
He has since built one of the most decorated careers of any offensive lineman in professional football, earning multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and becoming widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive tackles in NFL history.
But in Longview, Williams’ story has never been only about what he has accomplished on Sundays.
It is also about what he has continued to do for the place that raised him.
For more than a decade, Williams has invested in Longview students, athletes, and families. In 2011, he supported significant improvements to the Lobo varsity football locker room. In 2013, he launched the Silverback Free Football Camp, an annual camp at Longview High School and Lobo Stadium that provides free football instruction, training, and mentorship for local student-athletes, now averaging about 100 athletes each year. Since 2015, he has supported recurring efforts to provide Christmas gifts, toys, and bikes to children and families in need. That same year, he helped launch EKG screenings for Longview ISD student-athletes in partnership with CHRISTUS Good Shepherd, with more than 1,000 students receiving screenings since the effort began. In 2016, he partnered with Nike to provide more than 1,000 pairs of shoes for Longview elementary students and campuses. In 2022, he launched the Silverback Dual Credit Scholarship to help Longview High School students access college-credit opportunities.
District leaders and former coaches have also noted that some of Williams’ support has been private or low-profile, reflecting a pattern of giving that extends beyond what is publicly documented.
For Longview athletic director and head football coach John King, Williams’ legacy has always been measured by more than what he became in the NFL.
King coached Williams at Longview High School and has seen his impact continue long after graduation.
“Trent was special before the rest of the country knew his name,” said John King. “You could see the size and ability, but you could also see the work ethic and the loyalty to this place. What people need to understand is that Trent did not just leave Longview and become great. He kept Longview with him. He has poured back into this program, this school, and this community in ways people see, and in some ways they may never fully know. That is what makes this kind of honor meaningful. He is a Lobo for life.”
“Trent Williams’ story is a powerful example of what can begin in Longview ISD,” said Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard. “He took the foundation built here and carried it to the highest level of his profession, but he never separated his success from his responsibility to give back. This proposed naming is not simply about honoring an elite athlete. It is about recognizing a graduate whose impact has reached academics, athletics, student health, youth mentorship, and families in need. Trent’s story continues to create opportunity, pride, and possibility for Longview students.”
Longview has publicly honored Williams’ connection to his hometown for years. After he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, the City of Longview honored him with “Trent Williams Day” on May 12, 2010. In 2017, Williams returned to Longview High School for the retirement of his No. 71 Lobo football jersey, becoming one of the few Longview football players to receive that honor. In 2022, Longview ISD recognized him as one of the district’s Distinguished Alumni honorees. Naming the new Multipurpose Indoor Facility in his honor would create a lasting tribute on the same campus where his journey began.
The new facility is expected to serve a wide range of student programs at Longview High School. While it will provide major support for athletics, it is also designed as a flexible space that strengthens opportunities for students, coaches, sponsors, and campus programs throughout the year.
“At Longview High School, we want every student to see that greatness can start right here,” said Longview High School Principal Shameika Allen. “Trent Williams walked these halls, wore the green and gold, and built a life that shows our students what hard work, discipline, and belief can become. To have his name on a facility that will serve future Lobos would be meaningful because it gives our students a daily reminder that their dreams do not have to be small.”
The proposed naming will follow Longview ISD Board Policy CW (LOCAL), which gives the Board of Trustees the authority to name or rename district facilities.
The process is simple:
Longview ISD receives public input on the proposed name.
The naming committee reviews the feedback and considers the criteria in Board Policy CW (LOCAL).
The committee makes a recommendation.
The Longview ISD Board of Trustees makes the final decision.
Board Policy CW (LOCAL) allows the district to consider several factors when naming a facility, including local geographic significance, the facility's function, and individuals who have honorably served the district or community, especially those whose service and contributions have benefited children.
District leaders believe Williams’ connection to Longview High School, his national accomplishments, and his documented record of service to students and families align strongly with the intent of the policy. His support has touched academics, athletics, student health, facility improvements, youth mentorship, at-risk students, families in need, and the broader Longview community, with some of that support taking place quietly and outside the spotlight.
“The Board’s role is to make sure the district follows a thoughtful, transparent process while honoring names that reflect Longview ISD’s values,” said Michael Tubb, President of the Longview ISD Board of Trustees. “This proposal recognizes someone whose connection to Longview is deep, whose achievements are extraordinary, and whose support for children and this community has continued long after graduation. Public input is an important part of that process, and we look forward to hearing from the community.”
The Multipurpose Indoor Facility is one of several major projects connected to Longview ISD’s voter-approved bond program. The project represents a significant investment in student opportunity, campus programming, and the long-term future of Longview High School.
“This facility was designed to serve students for decades,” said Sam Kington, Longview ISD Chief of Facilities and Operations. “Every detail of these bond projects is about creating spaces that are functional, durable, and worthy of the students and staff who will use them. Connecting this facility to Trent Williams would add a powerful layer of meaning to a project that is already focused on opportunity and service.”
For Longview ISD, the proposed naming connects a major new facility investment with a graduate whose name is known nationally and whose impact is still felt locally.
“Every student who walks into this facility would see more than the name of an NFL star,” King said. “They would see the name of a Lobo who started where they are starting, worked for something bigger, and came back to invest in the next generation. That is the kind of legacy we want our student-athletes to understand.”
Public feedback will be accepted through Monday, June 22. After the public input period closes, the naming committee will review the feedback and prepare a recommendation for consideration by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees at the July 27 regular meeting.