James R. Williams: Pioneering Akron Judge and Civic Leader

HISTORY

JAMES R. WILLIAMS: PIONEERING AKRON JUDGE AND CIVIC LEADER

By Roderick Q. Blount, Jr., MA

January 20, 2021, left an indelible mark on the history of the United States of America with the inauguration of Joseph Biden as the President and Kamala Harris as Vice President. Vice President Harris particularly made history as the first African American, woman, and person of South Asian descent to be elected and to serve in that role. President Biden and Vice President Harris come into their lofty positions with unprecedented problems including a strongly divided country, the COVID-19 pandemic and an insurrection at the United States capitol incited by a contingent of Trump supporters. However, President Biden and Vice President Harris are already working at a fast pace to enact laws and fulfill appointments. One of the key areas of focus of the previous administration was the appointment of judges. Judges at all levels of government are important because their interpretation of lawsuits can fortify or reverse laws that affect all aspects of our lives. Consequently, it is important to have competent judges who are able to impartially interpret, enforce or reverse laws. Hon. James R. Williams was a distinguished judge whose character, life experiences and education enabled him to successfully serve on his court and in the community. James Robert Williams was born on September 16, 1932, in Lowndes County, Mississippi, and reared in Columbus, Mississippi. He matriculated through local schools and was a graduate of Union Academy High School. The valedictorian of his class at Union Academy, Catherine Douglas, was his high school sweetheart and future wife. Upon graduation, Williams entered the United States Army. After his honorable discharge, Williams matriculated to University of Akron where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1960. At the University of Akron, he played on the university baseball team as an infielder. He received his Juris Doctor in 1965 from the University of Akron Law School while attending its night school, becoming one of the first African Americans to graduate from the law school. Judge James Williams had a robust career. He taught in the Akron Public Schools for four years at Lane Elementary School and East High School. He worked as a supervisor in Akron Parks and Recreation. He served as a senior staff member for the city of Akron’s Department of Planning and Urban Development. He had a private law practice and later joined the firm Parms, Purnell, Stubbs, and Williams. He also lectured in Senior Problems at the University of Akron. In 1970, was elected to the Akron City Council and served for several terms with distinction. He was a proponent of gun control and sponsored a gun control ordinance which was passed into law in Akron in 1974. Also in 1974, Williams was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. In 1978, Williams was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio by President Jimmy Carter, serving until 1982. He returned to his private law practice for one year. He was appointed judge of the Akron Municipal Court in 1983 and was elected to the court in 1985 and again in 1987. Judge Williams continued to make history when became the first African American judge on the Summit County Common Pleas Court after his appointment in 1989. He was elected in 1990 to serve the unexpired term of Judge John Reece. He was re-elected to the court in 1992 and 1998. In 2003, Judge Williams presided over the case involving LeBron James. He retired in January of 2005 after 15 years of service as a common pleas judge. Judge James Williams was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He was initiated into Alpha Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in 1958 and served as president of the chapter in 1959. He matriculated to Eta Tau Lambda alumni chapter where he served as President from 1963 to 1964. He was Legal Counsel for the Midwestern Region during 1967-1970. He was elected as the Midwestern Regional Vice President in 1970 and subsequently elevated to the Board of Directors. On January 1,1977, Judge Williams was installed as the 25th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha. He was particularly proud of his role as the Chairman of the Board of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., a non-profit housing, development and management corporation formed in 1966 that has built more than 1,600 units of housing assisting low and moderate-income families and the elderly. Judge James R. Williams was an active member of several organizations and community activities. During the 1960s, he served as secretary of the Akron NAACP and vice president of the Ohio NAACP. He was a member of the Summit County Legal Service Program (Past President), the Summit County CAP Agency (Past President), NEFCO (Treasurer), Summit County Democratic Party, Metro YMCA (Exec. Board), National Association of Regional Councils (Executive Board), the Akron Children’s Hospital (Trustee), Leadership Akron, Akron Roundtable, Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Akron Community Foundation, Akron City Club, and the University of Akron Foundation Board from 1998-2007. He was also a member of Sigma Pi Phi (Beta Rho Boule/Past Central Region Sire Archon), 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason (Mt. Calvary Lodge #76), and Wesley Temple A.M.E. Zion Church (Past President of the Brotherhood). Judge Williams has received many awards and recognition for his trailblazing career and activities. Hw was named as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine and was given the Alumni Honor Award in 1990 by the UA Alumni Association, The University of Akron School of Law Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2001 and The University of Akron Public Administration Urban Light Award in 2004. The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters of the University of Akron was conferred on Judge Williams in 2006. The Honorable James R. and Catherine D. Williams Scholarship Fund and the James R. Williams Tower have been named after him. Judge James R. Williams passed away on November 6, 2020. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine, an educator, and two brothers. He is survived by his by his wife, Jewell Cardwell-Williams; sister-inlaw, Ruth Horn of Akron; two children, Michael (Annalisa) Williams and Jacqueline (Kyle) Walton of Toledo; granddaughters Alexandria Williams and Alexis Walton and grandsons, James R. Williams II and Ryan Walton. Judge Willams was a family man. Jacqueline Walton, his daughter, described him as a provider, protector, advisor, and friend. His son, Michael, followed in his father’s footsteps as a city councilman. The former Akron Beacon Journal columnist compared Judge Williams’ character to the classic hymn; “May the work I’ve done speak for me…May the service I give speak for me.” Williams was humble, accomplished, intelligent, charitable, and a man of faith. He continued to be active in the community until his passing. Christopher J. Peters, dean of University of Akron’s School of Law, said it best when he stated, “Among his many accomplishments, he will be remembered as a mentor to countless attorneys who have gone on to enjoy their own distinguished careers, including many Black lawyers. His legacy will remain long after his passing.” Works Cited https://www.uakron.edu/ https://www.justice.gov/ https://calhounfuneral.com/ https://www.beaconjournal.com/ http://alphahomes.org/ The Sphinx magazine (Winter 1976, Vol. 62, No. 1) Roderick Q. Blount, Jr. is an Educator and Historian. He received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Ball State University and a Masters of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. His work has been featured in several publications. Rodney is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a member of several organizations.