Latin School of Chicago

Ira "Tripp" Williams III '85 When Ira "Tripp" Williams III came to Latin as an eighth grader, he couldn't have predicted that he would one day be a published author. Although a life-long love of reading instilled in him by his English teacher mother made writing a natural form of self-expression for him, Williams' destiny seemed elsewhere. A star athlete at Latin, with interests in history and business, Williams went on to receive an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Stanford and a master's degree from the Harvard Business School. He has worked with start-up, midsize and Fortune 100 firms, where he has led brand management and business development efforts. Today he is a vice president and general manager of Calloway Golf Interactive, "For me, intellectual curiosity and high expectations were the norm. That's all I knew at Latin." overseeing e-commerce and the company's Web presence. With his background, a career path in sales and marketing was hardly surprising. But an author? A book about humility? Williams himself is still somewhat astonished by this development. "On my 10th anniversary, I was literally floating down the river in Durango, Colorado," Williams recalls. "I was overwhelmed by the majestic beauty . . . and what began as a series of e-mails to friends and family became essays, which ended up on thought-leading Web sites and blogs. Eventually, I felt moved to turn all of this into a book." Speak Softly…: What Happened to American Humility? is a celebration of personal virtue that Williams believes is almost lost in American society. In the book he argues that while the deeply rooted sense of individualism that is part of the American psyche has allowed us to succeed in many ways, it also has damaged our sense of humility. Not seeing himself as an author, Williams has turned the Speak Softly project into a philanthropic endeavor. All proceeds from the book go to charitable and not-for-profit organizations including The Jackie Robinson Foundation, The Imagine Campaign and the Obokon B. Okon III Fellowship at Stanford. He has accepted invitations to talk with local groups about the book, and he is hoping to expand his speaking engagements nationally. According to Williams, his experience at Latin allowed him to pursue both his passion for business and his interest in expressing his beliefs and thoughts in writing. "For me, intellectual curiosity and high expectations were the norm. That's all I knew at Latin," says Williams. "Being nurtured and cultivated in that environment, I see myself as always being a student of culture, of life. I am always a learner." He fondly remembers the influence of coach Tom Bower and teachers Steve Sommers, Ingrid Dorer Fitzpatrick and Jim Burnett, among others. "Their enthusiasm and energy was a gift. They made it real. They put me on the course," Williams recalls. Latin School of Chicago 39

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