The body of Auburn University football chaplain Chet Williams was recovered from a lake Sunday after he was seen falling into the water while trying to board a boat.
According to WSFA-TV, Williams taken The boat was headed to a restaurant on Lake Martin, but fell into the water Sunday night while trying to catch a return boat.
The pastor was visiting a portion of the lake in Elmore County, about 45 minutes west of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he works.
The 61-year-old pastor's body was recovered around 7:20 p.m. that day.
Williams was a linebacker at Auburn (1984-1986) and earned a bachelor's degree in adult education from Auburn in 1985. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993.
He served as co-pastor of New Song Baptist Church in Mobile from 1991 to 1993 and then became pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans.
Williams joined the football staff in 1999 as the team chaplain under coach Tommy Tuberville. That same year, he was named campus director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and state director of FCA's Urban Ministry.
Williams has written films about life at Auburn University, including “Hard Fighting Soldier,'' about the Tigers' 2004 undefeated season, and “Broken Road,'' about the school's 2011 national championship team. He had written several books.
The Alabama Department of Law Enforcement's Maritime Division has reportedly launched an investigation into the pastor's death.
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