A week after Marc Williams resigned from his seat on the Jefferson College Board of Trustees, the remaining board members appointed retired Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis to replace him.
Marc Williams
Williams, who was elected to a six-year term on the board in April 2023, resigned Oct. 22, and the board voted unanimously Oct. 29 to fill the seat until the April 8 election.
At that election, someone will be selected to fill the remaining four years of the term, Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey said.
She said the board did not solicit applications, but board members suggested possible candidates to be appointed.
“There were several names discussed and it was decided that (Lewis) would be a good choice because of his public service experience,” she said.
Margie Passmore, the board president, said another reason to go with Lewis is because he lives in Festus, as does Williams.
“We wanted someone on the board to represent that area,” Passmore said.
McCaffrey said the board decided to move quickly to fill the seat because of the relatively short period of time the appointee will serve before the unexpired term is up for election.
Candidate filings for the April election begin in Dec. 10.
Passmore said Williams told college officials he needed to resign because of his job and other concerns.
Williams did not respond to phone calls for comment.
Lewis, 65, was the Festus police chief from 1998 until he retired in 2023, after a 41-year career in law enforcement.
Lewis said he previously indicated interest in serving on the college’s Board of Trustees.
“I just happened to mention to a couple people that if they ever needed somebody, to give me a call,” he said. “And, they did.”
Lewis said he has deep ties to Jefferson College.
“I worked for the college,” he said. “I was adjunct faculty for Mineral Area College and Jefferson College for about 20 years total. I graduated from Jefferson College in 1980.”
Lewis said he plans to run for the unexpired portion of the seat’s term.
He said he appreciates what Jefferson College has done for him, as well as the college’s importance to the county.
“I just wanted to be part of a highly successful educational program, and Jefferson College is a jewel for the county,” he said. “I felt I had good education from there. I’m looking forward for the opportunity (to serve on the board).”