AASHTO Journal - Alabama DOT Worker Going for More ‘Turkey Calling’ Gold

Terence Williamson (above at left) – a construction engineer with the Alabama Department of Transportation – is trying to become a three-time Grand National champion in the air and friction turkey calling division at the World Championship Turkey Calling Contest on June 7-8 at the Mobile Convention Center.

[Above photo by Alabama DOT]

Williamson, 39, has won six major turkey calling championships altogether when he is not working on transportation projects. He currently works in the Alabama DOT’s Tuscaloosa area in the West Central Region, where he oversees major initiatives such as the US-82 Rebuild Alabama Act and US-11 widening project. He began his career with the state in 2005 and earned his professional engineering license along the way.

Williamson said in a statement that he enjoys working at Alabama DOT because of the flexible schedule that allows him to hunt and compete in turkey calling competitions.

“The flexibility to do stuff outside of work and have a work-life balance was important to me,” he pointed out. “It is a great place to work because of that, and I honestly love working here.”

That “flexibility” also allowed Williamson to design his own “turkey call” that not only bears his signature, but is sold throughout the country.

Williamson – who is married with two sons, ages six and 12 – credits his love of hunting and turkey calling competitions to his father.

He went on his first hunt at four years of age and participated in his first competition at 10. Although he finished last in initial competition, Williamson said that only drove him to become better.

“I don’t like losing,” Williamson said. “If I’m going to do something, I want to be the best at it.”

However, Williamson did admit that his family has noted it can sometimes “become too loud” in the house during his practice sessions and that of his sons.

“We have to practice on the complete opposite end of the house,” noted Williamson. “It can be noisy at times. But I want to teach my boys and share this experience and make memories with them.”