Jim Williams (politician)

James Hunter Williams (June 17, 1926 – December 16, 2016), known as Jim Williams or J. H. Williams, was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. Williams is best known for serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1975 to 1979, and as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from 1979 to 1981.

Jim Williams
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 6th district
13th (1968–1972)
In office
November 5, 1968 – November 4, 1974
Preceded byL. K. Edwards Jr.
Succeeded byBuddy MacKay
11th Lieutenant Governor of Florida
In office
January 7, 1975 – January 2, 1979
GovernorReubin Askew
Preceded byThomas Burton Adams Jr.
Succeeded byWayne Mixson
2nd United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
In office
1979 – January 20, 1981[1]
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byJohn Coyle White
Succeeded byRichard Edmund Lyng
Personal details
Born
James Hunter Williams

(1926-06-17)June 17, 1926
Ocala, Florida
DiedDecember 16, 2016(2016-12-16) (aged 90)
Ocala, Florida
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLouise Oxner Williams

Prior to his selection as Governor Reubin Askew's running mate during Askew's 1974 reelection campaign, Williams served for six years in the Florida Senate, representing parts of north-central Florida including his home county of Marion.[2] In the Askew administration, Williams also served as Secretary of the Department of Administration and chairman of the state Bicentennial Commission. Williams ran for governor in 1978, but lost the Democratic nomination to Bob Graham. He was succeeded as lieutenant governor by fellow Democrat Wayne Mixson, Graham's running mate.

Following his tenure in state government, Williams served as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Jimmy Carter administration.[3] After Carter's defeat for reelection in 1980, Williams served as a founding director of the SunTrust Bank Holding Company.[4]

Williams died on December 16, 2016.[5] He ran a real estate agency in Ocala, Florida with other employers and members of his family. Jim Williams and his family have also given a vast amount of protected land to Marion County, and own and maintain some orange groves. He served on the governing board of the agency that protects Lake Weir, an important aspect of his home city. The lake's tributary, the Ocklawaha River, would have been damaged if plans had continued to divert its water.

Education

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Jim Williams received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Florida.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Medina, Carlos E. "Former Lt. Gov. James H. Williams dies at 90". Gainesville Sun.
  2. ^ "Historical Senate Journals". Florida Senate Website Archives. Florida Senate. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b [1][permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Alumni". cf.edu. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jim Williams's Obituary on Ocala Star-Banner". legacy.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida
1974
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Florida
1975–1979
Succeeded by