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A man of many hats

by Travis LaCoss
Dr. J.T. Williams II potted one of his African violets at his home in Maysville. J.T. began growing and cultivating the plants a few years ago as a hobby. His maternal grandmother, Cecelia, who only ever went by “Madam,” used to grow the same flowers. African violets require significant care from the gardener, including monitoring temperature, moisture, light, pot size and frequently changing the soil.

“Angles and Energy” is a motto that Dr. L.T. Williams II lives by. To him, it means having good energy and a good angle — whether that refers to his outlook on life or the angle of a surgical instrument in his veterinary clinic. “He doesn’t want to waste time on the negative,” his wife, Lou, said.

J.T. has been a veterinarian in Maysville for 32 years. He originally thought about being a doctor, but didn’t want to specialize in just one area. As a vet, he could practice everything: surgery, radiology, dermatology, internal medicine. Plus, running his own business allowed him to pursue his interest in accounting. 

That wasn’t his only other interest. His curiosity fuels his many pursuits beyond the Colonial Heights Veterinary Clinic, including acting in local plays with the Appalachian Creatives Theatrical Society, being an investigator on the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, teaching classes in anatomy and physiology at the Maysville Community and Tech College, and taste-testing dog treats for his Instagram account @vet.in.a.hat. 

In addition to prioritizing time with his wife and four children, he also takes care of his mother. 

“My parents had a messy divorce,” J.T. said. Because of that, he formed a deep connection to his mother and maternal grandparents. He attends church regularly, a habit that his wife, Lou, said she thinks allows him to feel connected to his late grandparents.

He also shares his grandmother’s love of African violets. “I was always told that African violets were difficult to grow, so I like the challenge of that,” J.T. said as he meticulously pruned the plants’ roots with a dental scraper while repotting them. 

J.T.’s collection of violets has spilled out of two full shelves into the kitchen windows, where many are kept in pots made by his daughter, a ceramicist; each plant has a name. He keeps a spreadsheet with the schedule of repotting and the details of each plant. These plants require specific soil, temperature, moisture, and have a watering schedule. He measures out the water with a syringe. 

This is his calm in a full life. “This just makes me happy,” he said with a large smile, like an excited child. 

He takes the same care with his friends and family. ”He would do anything for us,” Erin Williams, his daughter, said, noting that his care for other people is what makes him a good vet. 

“Little J.T. is still in that 60-year-old man, and he just has a sparkle,” Lou said. 

J.T. often drives his mother, Betty Williams, to her doctor appointments. J.T.’s parents had what he described as a “messy divorce,” when he was 12 years old, and he developed a very close relationship with his mother and his maternal grandparents.
It is easy to see where J.T. gets much of his personality. The conversations with Betty are filled with playful banter and quick wit.
Torrie Fryman and J.T. examine Chance, a blue heeler, with owner Samantha Hill during a visit at the Colonial Heights Vet Clinic. J.T. has been working as a vet for 32 years in Mayville.
J.T. originally thought about becoming a medical doctor, but liked the idea of being able to practice all aspects of medicine as an animal doctor, whereas most medical doctors are specialists. J.T.’s wife, Lou, described him as someone who just “can’t sit still,” and is constantly learning new things. J.T. is constantly balancing time with his family, acting in local theater productions, working as an investigator for the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, his practice at the vet clinic, learning Spanish and caring for his mother.
Peyton Emmons, Alice Myers, Anne Klee, Hannah Hinson and Joanna Bess have a morning meeting with J.T. to plan out the day and talk about the scheduled appointments. “He thinks about other people a lot,” his daughter Erin said. “I think that’s why he is a good vet, because he actually cares.”
“I am kind of a ham,” J.T. said as Joanna filmed an Instagram reel of him taste testing Toot Loops dog treats. He ranked them on a paw scale of one to five. He always wears a different hat during the videos. He thought of the vet in a hat idea just because he has always enjoyed hats.
“For the rest of my life, that’s all I need”, J.T. said as Lou and Erin Williams, his daughter, watched old home video productions on their family’s YouTube channel, “Trained Monkeys.” The channel started as a Christmas gift from his family to him eight years ago.
“This just makes me happy,” J.T. said as he repotted his African violets in his backyard. J.T. names many of his plants, including one he named after his daughter Erin’s nickname from when she was a baby: Fuzzy.