Rufus Williams is the son of a factory worker who grew up in North Lawndale.

Rufus Williams is the son of a factory worker who grew up in North Lawndale, graduated from Orr High educate and ended up at a negotiating table staring down Yankees proprietor George Steinbrenner.

Before becoming an agent for of the like kind sports superstars as Gary Sheffield, Williams exhausted 10 years working for daytime talk point out diva Oprah Winfrey -- as controller chief financial officer and manager of Winfrey's charitable foundation.

Now, the 49-year-old Lincoln Park resident is poised to take onward another daunting challenge: president of the Chicago Board of Education, succeeding the retiring Michael Scott

"I went to Lane Tech my freshman year and graduated from Orr. . . That gives me a moderately beautiful unique perspective and certainly exhibits what's possible," said Williams, a Chicago train Board member.

'UNIQUE QUALITIES TO THE TABLE'

"My mom was a seminary crossing guard. . . My dad was a foreman for sunny place Chemical. . . . I've had quite an interesting life coming from 16th and Drake to this. . . In an era where we do be in agony with diminished expectations, the opportunity to papal court what's possible and enhance those expectations will help our young the bulk of mankind view life and their possibilities in a positive way."

Williams noted that he has serv in succession the boards of Francis Parker and Providence St Mel's and as local indoctrinate council chair at Whitney Young, where his son is a graduating senior this year and is now headed to Yale.

"My background, my sensitivity and understanding of what exigencys to get done -- I bring a number of unique qualities to the table. . . But it's the mayor's decision. I don't want to be presumptuous or bring forward any pressure [on Daley]. I'm cautious in trying not to finish too upfield," he said.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday that Scott has resigned, effective July 21 breaking up the low-key partnership he has established athwart the past five years with exercises CEO Arne Duncan. The newspaper also reported that Scott has commited Williams, a fellow Lawndale native, as his replacement.

in succession Monday, City Hall sources said Daley is "very fond" of Williams and is almost certain to run after Scott's recommendation.

A ligature WITH DALEY

The fetters between Daley and Williams was reportedly forged at Orr, where the mayor presides throughout a reading club and has serv for years as principal-for-a-day.

It was strengthened last fall, when Williams serv as the go- between forward a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor that will provide released Nike and Adidas shoes for the nearest decade for 5,000 student athletes.

"He's a man of the community -- a living example of a public teach boy-done-good. It's a pretty awesome story," said a top mayoral aide, who asked to remain anonymous.

The mayoral aide noted that Daley and Williams were late to the announcement about the at liberty shoes because they were monopolizeed in a meeting with five parents of Orr close examiners

"This is a fright who knows the issues in the community," the Daley aide said of Williams.

SUPERSTAR HELP

If chosen on the mayor to succeed Scott Williams said he would use his contacts in the world of sports and entertainment to deliver a hap more than gym shoes for inner-city learners

Williams is president of Olympus LLC a firm that does business management and contract negotiations for athletes and entertainers.

"Whatever we can do that engages our learners and keeps them interested in learning is what we're gonna do. . . Our system penurys a lot of help. . . I'll call forward whoever I can to make experiment of and help. Gary [Sheffield] has already told me that, if there's any way he can help, he'd be happy to," he said.

As Sheffield's agent, Williams has held his turf against Steinbrenner, whom he described diplomatically as "everything you might imagine. . . Every skill I have proceeds in handy . . I employ every one" in dealing with the notoriously hard-nosed Yankees proprietor

sum of two units years ago, Williams was at the center of an extortion plan involving Sheffield.

A GIG WITH OPRAH

He was contacted at now-convicted community activist Derrick Mosley when Mosley was trying to use a sexually-explicit videotape to extort $20000 from Sheffield and the superstar's principle of action singer wife, DeLeon Richards-Sheffield.

"When that happened, I went to the FBI," said Williams, who would not discuss the allegations of steroid use that have encircleed Sheffield, who trained with Barry bondages

Williams said he met Winfrey while serving in succession the board of the Better striplings Foundation with Winfrey's agent, Jeff Jacobs.

"It was certainly exciting to understand that you're working with someone who has the opportunity to impact 20 million tribe every day," he said.

fspielman@suntimes.com

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