Jack Kenny Williams, Ph.D., (April 5, 1920 – September 28, 1981) was a teacher who became an administrator then eventually president and chancellor of one of the largest university systems in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, before returning to the role of teacher.

Early years

Jack K. Williams was born April 5, 1920, in

Galax, Virginia Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,720. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Galax with neighboring Carroll County for statisti ...

, where he grew up. He graduated from Galax High School in 1936.Galax Native is Selected for $40,000-a-Year Texas Post in Higher Education ''Galax Gazette'' (1966, March 29) page 6A. He then attended

Emory and Henry College Emory & Henry University (E&H or Emory) is a private university in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, which is part of the Appalachian highlands of Southwest Virginia. Founded in 1836, Emory & Henry U ...

Emory, Virginia Emory is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2020 census down from 1,251 at the 2010 census. The community is named for and is the location of Emory and Henry College. It ...

, graduating in 1940. He began his professional career as a high school teacher and secondary principal in

Carroll County, Virginia Carroll County is a United States county located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one fifth of the county lies in the Virginia Piedmont region, while the rest is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The county ...

Higher education

Williams' higher education career began with two years as a graduate teaching fellow at

Emory University Emory University is a private university, private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campu ...

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. During this time he earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees. Next came 17 years of teaching and leadership in administration at

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

Clemson, South Carolina Clemson () is a city in Pickens County, South Carolina, Pickens and Anderson County, South Carolina, Anderson counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Clemson is adjacent to Clemson University, - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university pr ...

. He joined the Clemson faculty following World War II as an instructor. He taught history and government and worked his way up to become graduate dean. In 1960, he was named Clemson's dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs.

Military service

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Williams served as an officer with the Fourth Division of the

U.S. Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionary ...

. He served his country with distinction in the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...

. He retired from the Marine Corps with a rank of Major.

Texas A&M years

On September 11, 1970, Williams was elected as the 17th president of

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...

. On May 24, 1977, he was elevated to the position of Chancellor of the entire Texas A&M System. The Texas A&M System is one of the largest university systems in the United States. He resigned as the Texas A&M chancellor on January 24, 1979, to return to teaching. It was teaching that he loved most. During his career he authored numerous books and related works, several of these are listed in the external links below. Williams died September 28, 1981, in

Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, and was buried on the

campus in the Woodland Cemetery. His headstone reads simply “Jack Kenny Williams -- teacher”Find a Grave. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78173680

References

External links

Books by Jack Kenny WilliamsWorks by Jack Kenny Williams''Keepers of the Spirit''. Texas A&M University. The Centennial Decade--Jack Kenny Williams EraJack K. Williams Administration Building, Texas A&M University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Jack Kenny 1920 births 1981 deaths Chancellors of Texas A&M University System Presidents of Texas A&M University Emory and Henry University alumni Clemson University faculty 20th-century American academics