ELMORE COUNTY – Longtime Auburn University team chaplain Chette Williams died in a drowning in Lake Martin on Sunday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

According to ALEA Lieutenant Jeremy Burkett, at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, a maritime-related incident occurred that resulted in the death of a Dadeville man.

“Chette L. Williams, 61, was attempting to abandon his vessel, a 2005 Bennington 2575 RFS pontoon boat, when he crashed near a dock near Kowaliga’s Restaurant on Lake Martin west of the Kowaliga Bridge in Elmore County Water fell,” Burkett said.

Williams was recovered near where he entered the water at approximately 7:19 p.m. and was pronounced dead. Williams’ body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) to perform an autopsy.

Williams was a popular figure in the Auburn family. He has served the team as chaplain since 1999, when he was selected for the position by former Tigers head coach and current U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. Williams played linebacker for Auburn from 1982 to 1984.

In 2019, Williams tragically lost his son, Chette Williams Jr., in a shooting in Atlanta. The elder Williams leaned on his faith to persevere, and the AU faithful rallied behind him.

According to Alabama Baptist, Williams was the longest-serving chaplain at an NCAA Division I school.

A man drowned at the Kowaliga Restaurant dock in Elmore County after falling off the pier while boarding a boat, according to a report from WAKA. The victim has not been identified.

WAKA reported that the man was visiting the restaurant with a friend when they discovered it was closed for a private event. They were about to leave when the incident occurred. Divers from the Alexander City Police Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA recovered the body near the dock on Sunday.