[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE MEMORY OF MR. R.B. ``DICKIE'' WILLIAMS, III

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, recently south Alabama lost one of its most 
colorful personalities, and I lost a dear friend, R.B. ``Dickie'' 
Williams, III, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his 
memory.
  A native of Mobile, Alabama, ``Dickie'' was raised on the Williams 
Plantation in Finchburg, Alabama. After graduating from Monroeville 
High School and attending Auburn University, he graduated in 1958 with 
a B.S. degree in pharmacy from Howard College (since renamed Samford 
University). In 1961, ``Dickie'' moved to Selma, Alabama, and worked 
for three years on the staff of Swift Drug Company. In 1964, he moved 
one last time to Monroeville, where he opened Williams Drug Store.
  For nearly 40 years, Williams Drug Store was one of the foundations 
of the businesses found on Monroeville's town square and provided--in 
addition to one of the best and most efficient pharmacies anywhere in 
the area--a gathering place for members of the community who would come 
together for fresh coffee and good conversation. In addition, the store 
became an unofficial repository of decades of Monroe County history, 
and during the latter part of his life ``Dickie'' was known as Monroe 
County's ``unofficial historian.'' During his life, he shared his vast 
knowledge of county history and personal recollections of life in 
Monroe County in a column for the town's newspaper, the Monroe Journal, 
and in a series of four books.
  Perhaps most importantly, however, ``Dickie'' was deeply concerned 
for the personal well-being of his fellow Monroe Countians and for the 
preservation of his county's and his State's natural and historic 
sites. During the course of his life, he established the Monroe County 
Conservation Club and was instrumental in the creation of the Monroe 
County State Fishing Lake. Additionally, he was a past president of the 
Alabama Wildlife Federation and for 21 years was an elected Alabama 
delegate to the National Wildlife Federation. ``Dickie'' was also 
instrumental in helping to save the Old Monroe County Courthouse from 
demolition and was one of the founders of the Monroe County Heritage 
Museum.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a devoted 
citizen and long-time advocate for Monroe County, Alabama. ``Dickie'' 
will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Nancy Beeland Williams, 
his brothers, Charles Robbins Williams and John Bonner Williams, his 
daughter, Elizabeth Williams Olsey, his son, Richard Russell Williams, 
his stepsons, Dr. David Stallworth and Jeff Stallworth, his 
stepdaughter, Nancy Stallworth Weiss, and his 9 grandchildren--as well 
as the many friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with 
them all at this difficult time.

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