FC2_Birthday Card_Tony Williams

FEDERAL CITY COUNCIL

CATALYST

federalcitycouncil.org | July 28, 2021

Tony at 70: Smooth Sailing Ahead

Tony: Mentor for Life The X2 as Metaphor for DC

TONY AT 70:

Clear Sailing Ahead but AWOL on the Birthday Party The distinguished and widely celebrated Anthony “Tony” Williams, former District of Columbia mayor and ostensible city savior, turned 70 on July 28, 2021, jettisoning his sleepy 60s in favor of what many hope will be a more dynamic and productive 70s, especially given his unmistakable talents.

The cut of his jib has always been near perfect, but some feared Tony had settled into powerful doldrums speeding toward an eighth decade. As he approaches 10 years as the Federal City Council’s CEO and Executive Director, lesser men might turn forlorn. Yet most believed Tony would find an inner well of strength to take on the next challenges: being an ambivalent septuagenarian and revitalizing Union Station once again.

“He deserves four stars for his entire work life, from the moment of entrance to the moment of exit—which doesn’t appear to be coming any time soon. There really aren’t enough plaudits for the fortitude, intelligence and humor that he brings to every room when he arrives,” said one colleague too embarrassed to claim credit for the fawning praise.

Many believe Tony’s 70s will be marked by the same innovative approach to life as that displayed by Dwight Eisenhower as he planned the Invasion at Normandy, with a striking sense of where to deploy resources and how to get your way in a tough political fight.

“In reading about World War II, it was clear Eisenhower’s skirmishes with Churchill over bombing French railways before the D-Day landing was a battle worth having. By threatening to resign, he focused the minds and twisted the arms,” said Tony, adding that he would appreciate it if his FC2 staff wouldn’t pull such a maneuver.

2 | Catalyst July 28, 2021

Tony told his friends and coworkers that his birthday couldn’t and shouldn’t be used as an excuse for a long-overdue pandemic party. After all, despite his illustrious career, he was an affirmed introvert (to the point of standoffish) and didn’t like brassy parties. Most importantly, he planned to be off in Montana hiking on the birthday itself.

“I did it purposefully,” he said. “I knew that if I didn’t do it my way, a surprise party would ensue. Birthday party celebrations can be an emotional whirlwind. Better to come together, work together and succeed together for a more noble purpose than celebrating me.”

By all accounts, the now-abandoned gathering would have been a magnificent party. It would be the culmination of months of agonized and secret planning, with invitations sent to everyone in Washington, D.C. who really mattered. The Union Station main lobby would be awash in flowers, with tables decked out with silver, crystal and the latest Catalyst magazine. Mayor Bowser would M.C. a revue featuring the song stylings of Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go-Go, with the FC2 Board of Directors singing backup. The birthday cake would have been a marzipan miniature statue of Tony during his financial control board days.

“To be the biggest player, tackling the biggest problems and having the biggest impact in the District, the FC2 has to be more than just me,” said Tony. “It also needs to be about my undying passion for equality, smart development, economic vitality, great schools, and the extermination of D.C.’s burgeoning rat population.”

A birthday of this magnitude leaves everyone cherishing memories of Tony and his contributions to our own lives and to this city and its people, as well as recognizing him as a fashion icon who was personally responsible for reviving the bow tie for business attire.

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