J. M. Hanks High School is proud to announce the 2023 Honored Ex, Ryan Piers Williams (class of 1999).  

An American filmmaker, artist, and the Co-Founder of Harness, Williams graduated from The Kingdom class of 1999 and attended the University of Texas at Austin where he studied Radio, Television and Film.  He graduated from the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California.

Ryan wrote and directed the feature film, The Dry Land, which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in the Dramatic Competition.  Produced The Dry Land which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Dallas International Film Festival, the Best International Feature Award at the 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival, a Voice Award, and was released theatrically and digitally.  Williams wrote, directed, produced, and stars in his second feature film, X/Y. He was a producer of writer-director Walter Strafford's Kilimanjaro (2013). Ryan additionally has performed as an actor, in the 2007 short Muertas, which he directed, wrote and produced; and the features Blues (2008), Tomorrow Comes Today (2013), his own X/Y (2014), and 1985 (2018). He briefly appears in Barbie (2023). When he is not working on films, he enjoys painting.

He is married to actor America Ferrera and has two children, Sebastian and Lucia.  The Kingdom would like to congratulate Ryan Piers Williams for being this year’s Honored Ex.

J. M. Hanks High School celebrates Homecoming week from August 30 to September 2, 2023.

Wednesday, August 30

6:30 p.m. – Homecoming parade begins at Pebble Hills and Lee Trevino, proceeding south on Lee Trevino, ending at Excalibur Stadium.

7:45 p.m. (approximately) - Community Pep Rally at Excalibur Stadium.

Friday, September 1

7:00 p.m. – Homecoming football game vs. El Paso HS, Excalibur Stadium.  Presentation of Homecoming court during halftime.

Saturday, September 2

8 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. – Homecoming Dance at The Five Manor Ballroom.