Paxton Williams, senior in political science and communications Studies, will present a one-man play on the life of George Washington Carver Thursday night at the Maintenance Shop.

Williams wrote the play and will star in it playing various characters besides Dr. Carver such as Henry Ford, Booker T. Washington and Franklin Roosevelt.

“The play will be an entire overview of the obstacle he faced as well as his drive to serve humanity,” Williams said.

Williams wrote the play in the spring of 1999 after taking a trip to Southwest Missouri and visiting Carver’s birth site.

Iowa State’s celebration of the legacy of George Washington Carver last year inspired Williams to learn more about him.

“That is where I especially realized the impact of George Washington Carver,” Williams said.

The play deals with many aspects of Carver’s life.

His childhood, how he was orphaned as a young man and how he was turned away from schools are all covered.

Williams tried to include more about Carver’s life other than his inventions and his fame.

He said the entire play is summed up in Carver’s epitaph which reads, “He could have added fortune to fame but caring for neither he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.”

Williams will be dressed in costume and there will be few props on the stage.

“There is a simple setting for the stage,” Williams said. “Though with your imagination the play will take you to various places such as outside in the woods and to Congress.”

Williams said that he hasn’t had any other acting experiences other than directing and appearing in a variety show skit called “Critical Review.”

“I did not realize how difficult, yet enjoyable, learning lines could be,” Williams said.

Williams is doing this as an honors project to graduate through the honors program. He said that he is also receiving credit for Theatre 290.

The instructor of his theatre class, Jane Cox, directed the play.

“Doing this play as my honors project gave me a chance to be a bit more creative than I could in my political science classes,” Williams said.

Williams is a member of the FarmHouse fraternity and was one of five seniors awarded the Wallace E. Barron All-University Award this year. He will graduate in May.