Robert Hays Williams, 96, of Russellville, died Monday, October 19, 2009 at Wildflower Retirement Center. Born in Danville, Yell County, Arkansas, on September 22, 1913, he was the son of the late James T. and Lizzie Scisson Williams. He was a 1930 graduate of Danville High School and attended Arkansas Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech University) and earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctorate from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. Williams began his law practice in Russellville with the firm of Hays, Wait and Williams and then, with his long-time partner, Charles Gardner, formed the firm of Williams and Gardner. He represented the 5th Judicial District as Prosecuting Attorney for four years and served as Circuit Judge for four years. He also represented the 10th Senatorial District as State Senator for eight years.
Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army where he received training for work with the Counter Intelligence Corps. Robert Hays made the D-Day landing at Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division and served with the 4th ID until the war ended in Europe. He received the Bronze Star Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with five bronze stars for five European Theatre campaigns. Having received a battlefield commission during the campaign in Northern France, upon his return to Arkansas, Williams joined the Arkansas Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
During his many years of leadership in Russellville and Pope County, Williams served as member of the Russellville School Board, the ARVAC Board, the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, AARP, and the Russellville (Noon) Rotary Club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and was honored as Russellville’s Citizen of the Year in 1987. He was inducted into the Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction 1980.
Williams was a Master Mason and member of the Russellville Masonic Lodge #274, the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite where he received his 33rd degree, the York Rite Consistory and the Red Cross of Constantine.
He was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church, serving in almost every position for the laity, and, for a number of years, regularly taught the Lois Griffin Sunday School Class. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Martha Frances (Patton) Williams, Russellville; two daughters, Anne Rye and husband Alton, Bedford, Texas, Jane Williams and husband Roger Kalthoff, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Melissa Rye, Hays Rye and wife Chave, Cason Coplin and wife Laurie and two great grandchildren, Hayden and Molly Cate Rye.
A memorial service in celebration of a life well-lived will be held in the old sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 10:00 am under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mission Trust Fund of Russellville First United Methodist Church, 304 South Commerce, Russellville, AR 72801 or to the Robert Hays and Martha Williams Scholarship Fund at Arkansas Tech University, ATU Foundation, 1509 North Boulder Ave, Administration Building Room 209, Russellville, AR 72801.
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