The Best Line of Defense

submitted by Wayne Dunham

When the Lisle Lions football team takes the field for the first time on Friday, Aug. 26 at , one of those running on the field with them will be Dr. Eric Williams, owner of .

Williams is starting his 16th year as the team’s chiropractor, a volunteer position.

“He’s been with us as long as I have been with the team,” said Dan Sanko, Lisle Lions varsity football coach. “He’s part of the community. I send my own kids to him."

During games, Williams evaluates whether a player can go back in the game after an injury. He often works with the players on his own time to help the players heal. Last year, for example, he worked with a player for three days to help him recover from an ankle sprain so that he could play in the next game.

“He has a very positive attitude toward life that helps the players deal with their pain,” Sanko continued. “He’s worked some miracles for me.”

One of these "miracles" was in 1998 when a Lisle quarterback went down with what appeared to be disabling groin pain.

“Eric worked with the player for a while, put on some pain numbing spray and our quarterback not only got back in the game, he ran a quarterback sneak that went for a 78-yard touchdown that won the game,” Sanko said.

For many years, Williams was the only medical person coming to the games. In recent years, the medical team helping the Lions has been enhanced by the addition of a professional trainer and a volunteer doctor.

“Our trainers and doctors come and go,” Sanko says. “Doc Williams works very smoothly with them and it’s nice to have two opinions. He’s there on every injury and I trust him with his diagnosis. I’m delighted he’s on our sideline.”

Williams is involved in the community in many other ways as well. He is a long-time member board member and past president of the Lisle Education Foundation and he is a former board member of the Lisle Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Aurora African American Chamber of Commerce. Nominated for Citizen of the Year for Naperville in 2003, Williams coached girls’ national soccer teams for many years. His two daughters are currently studying pre-med in college.

“I love being involved in Lisle where I work and in Naperville where I live,” Williams said. “I’ve always believed in giving back to the communities that have helped me during my chiropractic career. But I have to admit that I love sports and working with the Lisle Lions is a special treat.”

Williams Chiropractic Center, 1617 Ogden Ave., treats all types of patients from infants to senior citizens. “Doc” has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Knox College and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College. To learn more, visit www.williams-chiro.com or call 630-969-1780.