Claude K. Williams ’45

Claude Williams, known as C.K., died Sept. 7, 2011, in his home in Montecito, Calif. He was 88.

He came to Princeton from St. Paul’s School. He was a member of Cottage Club and roomed with Rufe Page, Gov Winant, Bob Preyer, Oscar Streuber, and Cat Rees. He played freshman football and was a member of Triangle Club. In his freshman year, C.K., along with John Jessup and Preyer, stole the clapper.

During the war, C.K served with the 185th Field Artillery 34th Infantry Division in northern Italy and the Po Valley. He returned to Princeton and received an associate of arts degree in 1946. He later served in the Korean War.

C.K. worked in the construction business in Baltimore and then moved to Houston, where he established the Williams Brothers Construction Co. with his brother, Jake ’42. The company became one of the largest road-building firms in the country.

C.K. will be remembered for his talent as a professional artist. His paintings were sold at many art galleries.

C.K. had two children, Claude and Cynthia. To them and to his lovely wife, the former Mary Church, the class extends its sympathy.