FAVORITE MEMORIES OF WILLIAMS

As a research assistant with Professor Waite and playing handball with Professor Hilton; they became not only instructors but friends.Earning my Water Safety Instructor certification (WSI) in the LaSalle pool enabled me later to become a lifeguard and swimming instructor.
Rowing on Lake Onota with the newly formed Crew Club, coached by Professors Shaw and Marcus, built teamwork and was a lot of fun.

WILLIAMS CLUBS / ACTIVITIES

Crew club, Disciplinary Committee, Mead government intern, Washington, DC

CURRENT INTERESTS, PASSIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Running (twice completed Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC), biking, swimming, hiking, boating, pilot
Enjoy outdoor activities living in Florida and Colorado

LIFE SINCE GRADUATION

The day after graduation my brother and I began a backpacking adventure in Europe. Upon my return, I completed training in Newport, R.I., and was commissioned a naval officer (three years active duty, seven years reserve).

After further schooling on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, I flew to the Philippines, where I joined my ship as navigator on a destroyer. The very next day we set sail across the South China Sea to the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnam.

Three times we steamed across the Pacific Ocean (before the days of GPS), a 21-day voyage, navigating with a sexton and the stars. As the captain said, “You brought us there and took us home again.”

Completed two combat tours of duty, Vietnam. Disabled Vietnam Vet. After law school graduation, I became a prosecutor (five years), law partner (four years), and Florida trial judge (28 years).

Retired June 1, 2015. Learned I had stage 4 cancer same week. Participated in cutting-edge CAR-T clinical study. Other cancers have developed since, but the doctors and staff of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa have taken exceptionally good care of me. As my oncologist says, “Still breathing air on right side of dirt!”

Cathy and I adopted three infant girls, two of whom were born in China, where we twice traveled. Four more years until our youngest heads off for college.

Cathy, also retired, was director of Court Arbitration & Mediation Programs.

Fifty years is a long time, but it has gone by so quickly. Many wonderful memories, with but one minor setback!