Byron Edward Williams Jr. passed away Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 at his home in Kerrville, Texas following a brief battle with lung cancer. Mr. Williams was born March 12, 1937 in Frederick, Oklahoma to Beulah Marie Potts Williams and Lt Col Byron Edward Williams. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1956, Cameron State College in 1958, and in 1960 from Oklahoma City University with a B.S. degree in Business/Public Administration. Byron earned a Juris Doctor in 1972 from the University of Tulsa Law School and attended the National Judicial College and the American Academy of Trial Judges. He proudly served in the United States Army 1960-62. He was employed by Western Electric in St. Louis, MO 1962-65, and Shell Oil in Tulsa, OK 1965-70. He started his law career with the Legal Aid Society in Tulsa, OK 1971-72. Mr. Williiams began his private law practice in Claremore, OK in 1972. He was then appointed Rogers County Assistant District Attorney and served from 1973-75 and was elected to two terms as Chief Deistrict Judge of the Oklahoma 12th Judicial District from 1979-87. In 1988, Mr Williams went back into private practice briefly in Sapulpa, OK and spent the last part of his legal career in Pryor, OK until his retirement in 1998. In 2001 he moved to Kerrville, Texas. Mr Williams was a member of the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, and served on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Eastern, OK. He was elected President of the Rogers County Bar Association in 1976. Mr. Williams was Recognized for his outstanding achievements throughout his scholastic and professional career which included the Merit Scholarship 1958-60, AmJur Award/Domestic Relations 1972, and the Outstanding Oklahoma Trial Judge Award in 1985. Mr. Williams was known as "Byron Ed" to his friends and family. He enjoyed boating and fishing on Lake Hudson. Byron Ed had a great interest in vintage airplanes, especially from the World War II era, and loved building and flying remote control airplanes. His greatest love was spending time with his family. Byron Ed believed in the value of an education and he wanted people to live up to their potential and never sell themselves short.
Byron Ed is survived by his children, Mary Lee Luther and husband Steve of Broken Arrow, OK. and Byron Williams and wife Sherrie of Fountain, CO; grandchildren, Erica Ewton and husband Aaron of Claremore, OK, and Alek Williams of Fountain, CO; and great granddaughter Alyanna Ewton. He is also survived by his siblings Sally DiStefano and husband Tony of Potomac, MD, Jane Ann Gist of Arlington, TX, Weegie Williams and wife Opal of Hobart, OK, Mary Kirchner and husband Peter of Preussisch Oldendorf, Germany, Myron Williams and Craig Williams of University Park, MD. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Susie Williams Edwards.
Graveside services will be 1pm, Monday, Oct. 10, 2005 at Frederick Memorial Cemetery in Frederick, OK.
