Richard Wiliams, retired physics professor, passes away

July 12, 2021

We are saddened to share that retired physics professor Richard T. Williams passed away July 5, 2021, after a brief struggle with AML leukemia. He was 75.

Professor Williams earned a BS in physics at Wake Forest in 1968 and was the first Speas Award recipient for distinguished work in physics (the highest undergraduate award). He then earned an MA in 1971 and a PhD in physics in 1974 at Princeton.

After a successful early career at the Naval Research Laboratory, he was recruited back to Wake Forest as the Reynolds Professor of Physics. Professor Williams increased the reputation and visibility of the Wake Forest physics department by helping to establish its PhD program in the 1980s. He mentored the first physics PhD graduate and was the first endowed professor within the department.

After formally retiring from the University in 2017, Professor Williams remained active in research at the Wake Forest Nanotech Center.

Professor Williams’s obituary is available here. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Salem Funeral and Cremations, 2951 Reynolda Rd, Winston-Salem, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org/ or by calling 800.227.2345.

We grieve Professor Williams’s death and extend our condolences to his family and friends, as well as those at Wake Forest who had the opportunity to know him.

Wake Forest offers support and counseling services for all students, faculty and staff. The Counseling Center may be reached at 336.758.5273, the Chaplain’s Office at 336.758.5210. For staff and faculty, there is also the Employee Assistance Program at 336.716.5493.