James Lynn Williams, center, presents a check to The Dallas Way
The Dallas Way today (Tuesday, August 13) announced a $50,000 fundraising challenge from James Lynn Williams in honor of his late partner of 46 years, Charles Longcope Jr.
James Lynn Williams, left, and Charles Longcope Jr.
The Williams/Longcope Matching Gift Challenge will match donations to The Dallas Way up to $50,000 through the end of 2024 to fund the digitization of historical documents for global access.
“Charles was passionate about education and preserving our community’s history,” Williams said. “This challenge will ensure that future generations can learn from Dallas’ unique LGBTQ+ heritage.”
Robert Emery, president of The Dallas Way, added, “This gift ensures that Dallas’s diverse LGBTQ+ history will be explored across generations and will provide valuable resources for research and education.”
This donation to The Dallas Way complements Williams’ philanthropic efforts, which include more than $1 million in support of the LGBTQ community since 2022.
James Williams arrived in Dallas on February 4, 1974, freshly returned from military service and with degrees from Cornell and Dartmouth. Within 20 days, he met Charles Longcope Jr., a Dallas high school teacher and fourth-generation Texan. Their chance meeting sparked a 46-year romance based on a shared passion for the arts.
The couple immersed themselves in the Dallas cultural scene, becoming longtime subscribers to the Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony and Theater Three. Williams, with his rich musical background, became a founding member of the Turtle Creek Chorale. In later years, they were loyal supporters of the Uptown Players, even volunteering as ushers. Charles died in 2020, and Williams has since honored his memory through significant donations to organizations close to their hearts, including Turtle Creek Chorale (Williams is the largest single donor in TCC history and created the position of artistic director and conductor Charles Longcope Jr.); Uptown Players (Williams is the second largest donor and lists five areas within its headquarters); Bruce Wood Dance and The Dallas Way (Williams funded the digitization of the Turtle Creek Chorale’s concert recordings and poster collection).
Founded in 2011, The Dallas Way is dedicated to preserving Dallas’ LGBTQ+ history. The organization has collected over 275,000 documents at the University of North Texas and attracts over a million users through the Portal of Texas History.
Donations to The Dallas Way, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, are tax deductible and can be made to TheDallasWay.org/Donate or Donation Day in North TexasParticipants will double their impact in preserving Dallas’ LGBTQ+ history.
