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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF DR. WALTER E. WILLIAMS, ECONOMIST, AUTHOR, COLUMNIST, AND WIDELY RECOGNIZED COMMENTATOR, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are deeply saddened by the passing of economist Walter E. Williams on December 2, 2020, at the venerable age of eighty-four. Dr. Williams worked his way out of grinding poverty in the Philadelphia housing projects to chair George Mason University's economics department, author ten books and more than one hundred fifty publications, and achieve wide recognition as one of the most respected commentators of the last four decades; and
Whereas, born in 1936, Dr. Williams earned his bachelor's degree in economics from California State University Los Angeles and his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles. He also held a doctorate from Virginia Union University and Grove City College, as well as a Doctor of Laws from Washington and Jefferson College; and
Whereas, from 1980 until his death, Dr. Williams served on the faculty of George Mason University in Virginia as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics (1995-2001, department chair). He also served on the faculties of Los Angeles City College, California State University Los Angeles, Temple University in Philadelphia, and Grove City College in Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, his work appeared in numerous scholarly journals such as Economic Inquiry and American Economic Review, as well as popular publications such as Newsweek, National Review, and Reader's Digest. His ten books include America: A Minority Viewpoint, The State Against Blacks (later made into a PBS documentary), Liberty vs. the Tyranny of Socialism, and Up From the Projects: An Autobiography; and
Whereas, among his scores of radio and television credits are appearances on Nightline, Firing Line, Face the Nation, Crossfire, and The MacNeil/Lehrer Report, and he was a regular commentator for Nightly Business Report. Further, Dr. Williams was a syndicated columnist whose advocacy of free-market policies appeared in newspapers nationwide for decades, his last column running the day he died. His most recent documentary, Suffer No Fools, was broadcast on PBS stations (2014-2015) and was based on Up From the Projects. He also frequently gave expert testimony before congressional committees on various public-policy issues; and
Whereas, for his labors, Dr. Williams received numerous honors, including the 2017 Bradley Prize from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Fund for American Studies David Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, and Foundation for Economic Education Adam Smith Award. He was a Hoover Institution National Fellow and Ford Foundation Fellow and recipient of the Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation George Washington Medal of Honor, Veterans of Foreign Wars U.S. News Media Award, and California State University Distinguished Alumnus Award; and
Whereas, Dr. Williams, whose superlative intellect and life's work were anything but standard, leaves behind a gaping hole in academia and a grateful world of friends and readers who benefited from the fruits of his lifelong scholarship. Preceded in death by his wife, Connie, he is survived by their daughter, Devyn. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Dr. Walter E. Williams, economist, author, columnist, and widely recognized commentator, celebrate his life, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Devyn Williams.
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