By Rhett Umphress

Aaron Williams is the owner of Aaron’s Auction Team, and he ran the auction on Saturday at the Grissom Air Force Base.

Williams said that the auction was a great success, with 292 registered bidders.

“We had a great turnout,” Williams said. “Everyone had a great time.”

He estimates that more than $18,000 were raised in the auction. $5,000 of it came from the pillows that Kori made. Another notable item was the autographed David Cook guitar, which went for $1100.

He became a part of the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build when his friend Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes, asked him to participate. Williams is used to participating in benefit auctions; Aaron’s Auction Team puts on about 15 to 20 such auctions a year, Williams said.

Williams got into auctioneering and was inspired to start his own business by his stepfather, who was an auctioneer for 35 years.

Williams has attended several of the events this week, including the march and Reveal day.

“It’s great when the community comes out to support things like this,” Williams said.