Who’s behind the tools at HURST Jaws of Life? It’s machinists like Andy Williams. From chassis parts for NASCAR teams to cutting tools for furniture, Andy’s always been building things. Now, those talents are now creating the parts that power HURST Jaws of Life extrication tools, and ultimately helping first responders save lives.

He began his career in the furniture industry, making cutting tools that craft North Carolina furniture. A car enthusiast, he soon turned his passion into a career. He worked on cars fielded in the highly competitive NASCAR racing circuit for 10 years. His resume is pretty cool, laced with the names of racing greats; he was a machinist for Michael Waltrip and built engine parts for Roush-Yates Engines. Two years ago, he joined HURST Jaws of Life and is a machinist at its Shelby, N.C., headquarters.

Now that his job doesn’t require him to work on cars, he does it, anyway. He’ll fix cars and other small jobs for friends and family. So, it’s a little bit ironic that by day he builds tools that help first responders take cars apart.

He makes every single minute count, at work and at home. With three-year-old twins at home trying to catch up to their seven-year-old older brother, minutes fly by. But when he can catch a breather he heads for outdoor sports, happy with a rod in his hand and the blue skies overhead. What’s his favorite catch? “Whatever’s biting,” he says.

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