Marcus Williams (left) and father, Scott Williams, take a photo together from the stands at U.S. Bank Stadium. They were there to watch Marcus’ brother and Scott’s son, Dylan Williams, play football for Mankato West. Marcus, a diehard football fan, died in February. His mentor in the YMCA Brother/Sister Program, Ryan McKeown, is honoring him by donating funds to cover Vikings tickets for mentors and mentees this season.
Marcus Williams’ loved ones decked themselves in purple in his memory for his celebration of life in February.
Their attire reflected the 24-year-old North Mankatoan’s love for the Minnesota Vikings.
His father, Scott Williams, used the word “ecstatic” to describe his son’s reaction to going to his first Vikings game in 2013.
Marcus’ mentor in the Mankato YMCA’s Brother/Sister Program, Ryan McKeown, brought him to that game. Sports was something the two bonded over while matched in the program.
After Marcus’ unexpected death in February, McKeown thought more mentors and mentees should get to share gameday experiences. He and wife, Jill, provided money through their Mankato Area Foundation charitable fund to cover tickets for each Vikings home game this season.
“I feel like it would be something Marcus would really enjoy knowing people would be able to go to the Vikings games,” McKeown said of the donation.
Scott confirmed it would’ve meant the world to Marcus.
“He would’ve absolutely loved it,” he said. “Marcus would’ve given anybody anything.”
McKeown joined the YMCA program in 2010, mentoring Marcus or one other youth between then and 2014. His motivation for becoming a mentor was influenced by a tragedy he experienced growing up.
At age 10, he lost his mother to breast cancer. It was a tough time for him, and he shut himself off from activities in response.
While his father did the best he could as a single dad, McKeown realized as an adult how beneficial having a mentor outside the family could’ve been. A mentorship through the Brother/Sister Program could’ve been a positive outlet, a way to break out of his shell and a chance to talk to someone he trusted outside of family members who themselves were still grieving the same loss as he was.
By matching up with McKeown, Marcus got a safe outlet he needed, Scott said. Marcus was otherwise an independent kid who generally liked to keep to himself.
McKeown was the “real deal,” Scott said, the kind of person who Marcus looked forward to seeing.
“As a dad you felt really good about your son being happy,” he said. “Ryan accepted him for who he was.”
McKeown remembers Marcus opening up as they spent more time together. The boy was shy yet caring and friendly, McKeown said, and he clearly loved sports.
The two went to the YMCA for activities, to concerts, to movies and to Minnesota State University Mavericks athletic events. Then there was the Vikings game.
Ryan McKeown mentored Marcus Williams in the YMCA’s Brother/Sister program starting in 2011. One of the highlights of their time together was bringing Marcus to his first Minnesota Vikings game. After Marcus died at age 24 in February, his family requested everybody wear Vikings gear at his celebration of life. McKeown has since decided to help provide Vikings tickets to mentors and mentees in the program as a way to honor Marcus. Photographer: Casey Ek
McKeown works at the Wealth Enhancement Group, which has a radio program on WCCO in the mornings. Before the Vikings game Marcus got to join McKeown for the broadcast, where they met iconic Minnesota sports journalist Sid Hartman.
Marcus was a football fanatic. He dove deep into stats, wanted every jersey, and rode the emotional highs and lows of each season.
When Marcus was laid to rest, several loved ones offered up jerseys to be buried with him. A Kirk Cousins jersey, who Marcus idolized, was among them.
Scott wrote to Cousins’ foundation following the death to tell them about what happened and what a big fan Marcus was of the quarterback. The father thought maybe the foundation would send a message of support to Marcus’ younger brother, Dylan Williams.
About a week later a box arrived for Dylan. Inside was a pair of Cousins’ cleats, one autographed by the player and the other with a written message reading “In memory of Marcus.”
Kirk Cousins was Marcus Williams’ favorite Minnesota Viking. After Marcus died, his father wrote to Cousins’ foundation, followed by the foundation sending the quarterback’s cleats to Marcus’ younger brother, Dylan. One cleat is autographed by Cousins, while the other shown here reads “In Memory of Marcus.”
Sunday was a bit of a full-circle moment for Scott and Dylan. McKeown encouraged them to accept two Vikings tickets to see Cousins’ return to Minnesota — he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason.
Being at U.S. Bank Stadium for Cousins’ return, knowing how much Marcus loved watching him, was a special day, Scott said. Even though the Vikings won big and Cousins struggled, he thinks Marcus would’ve defended his old favorite player.
“For us it’ll be our highlight to be able to see that and do that in memory of Marcus,” he said.
The outing was also a return to a stadium where Dylan scored a touchdown for Mankato West in a state title game. Marcus was a proud older brother.
McKeown’s way of honoring Marcus ensures more mentees in the Brother/Sister Program are going to their first Vikings games. Two mentors named Isaac and Nicole wrote about the experience in Q&As submitted after their games, thanking the McKeowns.
“It gave us incredible moments for us to cherish forever,” Isaac wrote of the game he went to with mentee, Romeo.
Nicole wrote she appreciated how the game brought her and mentee, MyKiah, together spending time “doing things we love.”
Apart from just giving mentors and mentees an enhanced experience, McKeown hopes the Vikings tickets encourage prospective mentors to sign up for the program.
“I feel lucky I was able to have that experience,” McKeown said. “I want to encourage others to help out.”
The program is in need of more mentors, said Tom Schueneman, Mankato YMCA’s director of social responsibility. As of November it had 65 children waiting for a mentor.
Another way to help would be donating funds for the program to cover enhanced experiences, McKeown said. That could mean contributing toward Vikings tickets, another sporting event, a theatrical performance, art activities, a concert or any other special outing for a mentor and mentee.
Scott can attest to how much of an impact the Brother/Sister program had on Marcus. In a Facebook post after the recent Vikings game, he thanked Ryan and the program for donating tickets in memory of Marcus.
“The Big Brother Program is a big deal for our family,” he said.
