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Bishop retires from Williams Senior Center after seven-year stint

Williams Senior Center Director Max Bishop stands among the lunchtime rush. Bishop retired from the center last Friday. Ryan Williams/WGCN

Williams Senior Center Director Max Bishop stands among the lunchtime rush. Bishop retired from the center last Friday. Ryan Williams/WGCN

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - For the past seven years, Max Bishop has been the head of the Williams Senior Center. Last Friday, he worked his last day and started his retirement.

As the director, Bishop had three main responsibilities. The first was to oversee the meals program, including the congregate and home delivered meals. During his seven-year tenure, the Senior Center served nearly 100,000 meals.

Bishop's second responsibility was to coordinate recreational activities, such as Wii bowling, pool tournaments and bingo games.

Finally, Bishop organized health and well being programs, such as providing assistance with social services, organizing medical and shopping trips and bringing in doctors, attorneys and fitness instructors.

Melinda Tracey, Coconino County's Senior Services program manager, said she was glad to have Bishop running the Williams Senior Center.

"He's been a great asset to the senior program with his experience working in the community," she said. "I think he was able to make connections and he had a great amount of support from the city and the council chambers."

For Bishop, the best part of working at the Senior Center for the past seven years has been "the friendships that have occurred and are continuing. They're my buddies. We have a lot of fun."

Bishop expressed gratitude to the city of Williams and Coconino County, which have had a compact in place for about 25 years that allows the Senior Center to continue operations.

"Without that compact and without our volunteers and with the reduction in grant monies, we wouldn't be able to survive," he said.

Bishop also thanked the Senior Center staff and volunteers, the Williams city government, the mayor and city council, especially Don Dent and Bernie Hiemenz, and County Supervisor Matt Ryan.

"They're the reasons that we've been successful in keeping our operations and keeping our services at the same level, if not increasing," Bishop said. "What they all have in common is that they're very serious about our seniors' well being."

In addition, Bishop expressed appreciation to the individuals and organizations that have helped with the Senior Center's fundraising efforts, including the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Williams Community Fund, Meals on Wheels of America, the Feinstein Foundation and the Northern Arizona Council of Governments.

"I could name half the population of the citizens of Williams, because Williams is a very caring and giving community," he said.

Bishop will remain in the Williams area during his retirement, which he is looking forward to.

"First thing is to get rid of my alarm clock," he said. "Whatever whim might come up spur of the moment, that's what I'll do. I just like the idea of not having any schedules or anything fixed-just pick up and go when I want and do what I want."

Bishop plans to spend more time pursuing his hobbies, such as golfing, during his retirement. In addition, he has some property in a fishing village on the coast of Mexico where he'll spend time during the winters.

Bishop is confident that his successor, Senior Center cook Dolores Paredes, will be a great fit as the new director.

"She's a very caring and giving person also compassionate, so it will work out," Bishop said. "All the Williams community seniors are welcome to visit the Senior Center and meet with (Paredes) and she'll be happy to introduce them to the other seniors and to explain our different programs," he said.

The Williams Senior Center is at 805 W. Grant Ave. More information is available at (928) 679-7480.


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