J. D. Williams

The epitome of the master teacher, Professor Williams' love of the U.S. Constitution and the political history of the United States and his enthusiastic lecturing style made him one of the most popular and respected teachers on campus for more than 40 years. As one of his students said, 'You took an immature adolescent and influenced the entire direction of an adult life.'

Dr. Williams was the first presiding office of the Model U.N. from 1955 to 1967, the founding director of the university's Bureau of Community Development, and the first director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics from 1965 to 1975. He served on the Faculty Council, chaired the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, was a member of the Academic Policy Advisory Committee, and the Liberal Education Council. Nationally, he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Senate.

Dr. Williams treasures his citizenship and loves politics. B'nai B'rith, the Utah Bar Association, and the Utah Library Association have honored him for his defense of human brotherhood and constitutional freedom.

But campus and classroom have been his real home. He received his college's Superior Teaching Award and the university's Distinguished Teaching Award. From 1985 to 1987, he held the rank of University Professor to direct the university's celebration of the Bicentennial of the Constitution, and in that role, he delivered the Reynolds Lecture, 'The Miracle at Philadelphia.'

In his retirement year, 1992, Professor Williams was honored with the ASUU Student's Choice Award, election to the Beehive Honor Society, and with the Alumni Association's designation of this Stanford graduate as its Honorary Alumnus. His former students, colleagues, and friends have contributed more than $80,000 to established the J.D. Williams Scholarship for young scholars in need.