Williams | Robinson | Wiggins

John Z Williams

In Memoriam - 1941-2009

John Zadock Williams was born September 19, 1941 to Rex Z. and Marian Williams. He had one brother, Mark H. Williams. John attended Rolla High School, graduating in 1959. He then attended the University of Missouri, class of 1962, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and volunteered for Navy ROTC. Upon graduation, he served four years as a Lieutenant JG in the United States Navy, plus another six years in the Naval Reserve. Most of his active naval service was spent on the Minesweeper USS Embattle with a brief stint as a submariner. He returned to the University of Missouri after his naval service to pursue his law degree.

John Z. married his high school sweetheart, Judith Ann Huber, on June 4th, 1966. She graduated from University of Missouri with a teaching degree in 1964. They returned to Rolla in 1968, and John joined the law firm of Northern, Williams, Morris, & Williams (later becoming Williams, Smallwood, & Crump) to begin his law career. In 1991, his firm merged with what is now Williams Robinson Wiggins PC.

John and Judy had two sons, Matthew Z., born in 1969, and John A., born in 1972, and two granddaughters, Abigail Marian and Meghan Althea.

John served his community for many years in many ways. He joined the Rolla Lions Club in 1968 and performed forty years of volunteer service. He was the recipient of the Edwin Dalstrom Distinguished Service Award for Lions service and was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest award bestowed by Lions Clubs. John was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the Missouri Chapter of The Order of the Coif, the Missouri Bar Association, the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi, a member of the Board of Student Editors for the Missouri Law Review, and a member of the Phelps County Bar Association.

John served on the Board of Directors of Rolla State Bank/Centerre Bank from 1970 to 1989 and on the Board of Phelps County Bank from 1998 to 2007. He also served for many years on the Rolla Community Development Corporation board, where he was recognized for his many years of service to Rolla and Phelps County.

John enjoyed spending his weekends on the farm his father Rex had assembled during his lifetime, and John continued on that tradition of expanding and improving the farm. John spent many days out there. Every spring he would plant 1500 shortleaf pine trees he bought from the Missouri Conservation Department, many of which survive today. He enjoyed fishing in the summers and quail hunting in the winters, along with cutting wood and working on fences.

John Z. Williams died on March 1st, 2009, at his home in Rolla. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened. He was a well-respected attorney and member of his community. He leaves a legacy of generosity, hard work, and honest service.