Born in Newton, Mississippi, June 8,
1924, Williams graduated from Newton High School and
enrolled at Mississippi Southern College in Fall of
1942. In
December of 1942, he enlisted in the Navy as a
bandsman.
Following his service career, he returned to
Southern in the Spring of 1946 as a music major.
Williams accepted the Philadelphia
High School Band job in 1948.
The support of the school and community
contributed to the success of the program which he
directed for six years.
After a three year stint at Morton
High School, Thomas West, Director of Bands at
Mississippi State University, hired him as the
Assistant Director.
Williams became associated with
Wright Music Company and for four years worked as an
Educational Representative.
These provided to be valuable years when he
later taught band organization classes.
In 1965, Warren Central opened as a
new school.
With broad administrative and parental support and
enthusiastic students, the band experienced early
success under Williams’ leadership.
He completed a Masters Degree in School
Administration at Mississippi College while in
Vicksburg.
An opportunity to join Dr. Jim
Ferguson as Assistant Director of the Ole Miss Band
in 1967 prompted a move to Oxford.
After four years in this role, Williams
joined the faculty in the Music Department to teach
lower brass methods and band organization.
One of his most enjoyable assignments
was that of supervising practice teachers.
He spent time with local administrators as a
liaison for the University of Mississippi.
He perceived each student’s problem or
confrontation as a challenge and delighted in
assisting the student to an acceptable solution.
He seldom messed a faculty or student recital
as he respected their hours of preparation and was
committed to their support.
Upon the resignation of the Music Department
Chairman, Williams served as Acting Chairman during
the 1973-74 session.
A plan for early retirement and a new
lifestyle of country living was undertaken in the
Spring of 1979.
He took great satisfaction in being involved
in the construction of a new house.
A second rewarding accomplishment
which he shared with Peggy, his wife, was that of
timber management which allowed them to spend days
in the woods.
Another area of exploration was that of horticulture
in which he developed a small wholesale operation.
Serving as Inspection Judge at the
State Band Festival after retirement provided a
delightful opportunity for Williams to again be
involved with bands, directors, and adjudicators.
His criteria for determining ratings were
carefully studied as he sought to be just in his
decisions.
In June of 1985, his diagnosis of
lung cancer and asbestosis devastated the Williams
family.
Seventeen months later, after a courageous battles,
he chose to abandon further life support measures.
His immediate survivors include his wife of
thirty-seven years, Peggy McGough Williams and
daughter Olivia Williams Hudson and grandchildren,
Clint and Fran Hudson.
