Ralph Williams

DR. RALPH WILLIAMS, 89, of Little Rock, passed away Aug. 17, 2011. He was born near Hackett, Ark., to Elmer and America Shockley Williams and was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where in May, 2009, he was honored as Deacon Emeritus. Dr. Williams was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, serving in Battery H, 142nd Field Artillery of the 82nd Airborne Division and in the 464th Parachute Artillery Battalion. He parachuted in over the Rhine River during the Battle of the Bulge. He served in the Arkansas National Guard for 20 years, retiring as Command Sergeant Major. In 1950, he received his BS in Dairy Science in 1950 from Oklahoma A & M University in Stillwater. Dr. Williams received his MS and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1954 and 1960. He was an Associate Professor of Agriculture at Southern State College, Magnolia from 1950-58, Associate Professor of Biology at Ouachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia from 1960-61, Research Associate at the University of Missouri from 1961-62, and Extension Dairyman, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service from 1962-86. He also held a joint appointment as Professor in the Department of Animal Science from 1968-80. Honors and awards include the Arkansas FFA Honorary Farmer Degree, the Arkansas Dairy Fieldmen's Association Distinguished Service Award, the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Service Award, Agriculture Extension Specialist of the Year, and induction into the Arkansas Dairy Products Association Hall of Fame in 1986. As a devoted friend of the Department of Animal Science, Dr. Williams worked diligently throughout his tenure both as a professor with the Department of Animal Science and as Extension Dairyman to recruit numerous students into the Animal Science program at the University of Arkansas, primarily in the area of Dairy Science. In 1998 the Arkansas 4-H Foundation established the Ralph Williams/Doyne Potts scholarship which is presented to a 4-H youth with a dairy background who majors in Animal Science at the University of Arkansas. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his outstanding work in the field of science, and was honored in 1986 for his contribution to the American Milk Producers Incorporated. In 2002, he was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame for his outstanding leadership in the development of agriculture in Arkansas. Ralph served on the Scholarship Board for the University of Arkansas and made invaluable contributions to the youth of Arkansas through his involvement in the 4-H Center. From 1967-1998, he served as Faculty Advisor to the Alpha Zeta Fraternity. He will always be remembered for his contribution to education, his mentoring and genuine concern for helping direct his students to become productive, positive members of society. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Catherine Justice Williams; son, Ronald E. Williams of North Little Rock; daughter, Joanie L. King of Little Rock; sisters, Juanita Derrick of Hackett, Della Mae Miller of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jeannette Harger of Tulsa, Okla.; granddaughters, Dawn Ball (Dennis) and Erika King; five great-grandchildren, Hunter Douglas Price, Jessica Rainey Williams, Alex, Ashley and Adam Ball; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Iva Lee. He will be greatly missed by friends, students, associates and family whose lives were enriched by his touch. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon, Aug. 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Services will be Monday, Aug. 22 at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home, officiated by Rev. Charles W. Barfield and Rev. Tim Wicker, followed by interment at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials may be made to the Ralph Williams/Doyne Potts Scholarship Fund, c/o Arkansas 4-H Foundation, #1 Four-H Way, Little Rock, Ark., 72223. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 501-224-2200. Dr. Williams' online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.