George Williams, former Lawrence public works director, dies at 85
George Williams in his city office in 2001, soon before he retired as public works director.
Former Lawrence Public Works Director George Williams, who dedicated much of his life to the maintenance and preservation of his hometown, died Monday at age 85.
Williams, the namesake of George Williams Way in west Lawrence, was named public works director in 1967 and retired in 2001. During his 45-year tenure with public works, he saw the city’s limits stretch, and his department grew along with it.
“He really was in charge of all the hardcore working aspects of a city,” said former city engineer Terese Gorman, who worked alongside Williams every day for 16 years. “He was good at it. He expected hard work, but he was very caring. He made a huge impact on everybody who worked for him.”
Gorman and former city manager Mike Wildgen, who worked with Williams for almost three decades, described Williams as “jovial,” “a good man,” “a strong leader” and someone who believed deeply in what he did.
George Williams in his city office in 2001, soon before he retired as public works director.
Williams was a lifetime member of the American Public Works Association and served on the organization’s national board of directors for 10 years. He was selected in 1999 as one of the nation’s top 10 public works leaders of the year.
The Kansas chapter of the American Public Works Association named Williams as its most notable member. In 1996, the chapter created an annual award in his name, the “George Williams Award for Excellence in Public Works.”
Williams was born in Lawrence and graduated from Kansas University with a civil engineering degree. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, going through the Officers Candidate School, and served as part of artillery units in the Korean War. He was a first lieutenant when discharged.
Williams took a position with the city as assistant city engineer soon after he left the military.
He married Darlyne Willhardt in 1958, and the couple had three sons.
At Williams’ retirement party in 2001, Wildgen said he was the “epitome of the city institution,” according to a Journal-World article from the time.
“I think people on the outside, the citizens, respected him for his knowledge and ability to help them,” Wildgen said Wednesday. “He clearly was dedicated to the public works aspect of public administration, which affects so many people.
“He was just a grand guy, and we’ll miss him.”
A memorial Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, followed by a burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery.