WILLIAMSON,
JOHN ALEXANDER, Birmingham businessman, patriot and philanthropist, passed
away May 2, 2004 at the age of 86. Mr. Williamson exemplified the best of
America both in wartime and in peacetime. As a Navy veteran of both World
War II and the Korean conflict, Mr. Williamson was decorated for bravery
and leadership. As a civilian he began his career as a Birmingham car
salesman, and ultimately went on to form several companies that operated
in most of the major countries in the world. A native of Birmingham, he
graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1939 with a degree in
Mathematics. Williamson became prominent in American automotive affairs
mainly through his consulting and training activities, which were based on
finding and filling customers' needs with high levels of professionalism
and integrity. These activities led to the creation of several allied
business firms, including John Williamson & Associates, later known as
Williamson, Merrill, Taylor, & Darling. He also was Founder and
Chairman of Key-Royal Automotive, whose mission was to increase
professionalism in the automobile business and to increase success of
automobile retailers. Key-Royal sought to attract bright young people into
the retail automobile field, teach them the business, and help them to
become independent dealers. Key-Royal grew to over 25 retail dealerships
throughout the United States, and operated a training arm that worked with
automobile manufacturers and dealers around the world. Mr. Williamson was
also a founder of Birmingham-based CARS, Inc., which was an early pioneer
in the integration of computers and technology in the automotive business.
CARS eventually became DYATRON and later merged into SunGuard Data
Systems, a specialty company in the operations of computers and computing
systems with products utilized in the automobile, banking, personnel,
brokerage and mortgage banking industries. John Williamson founded each of
these firms and served each as perpetual advocate, board member and, from
time-to-time, Chairman. In the U.S. Navy, Mr. Williamson served on
cruisers, destroyers, subchasers, and destroyer escorts. He commanded a
173-foot subchaser in the Caribbean and a destroyer escort in the Pacific
during World War II. As Executive Officer of the Destroyer Escort, USS
England, he directed his ship in attacks that sank six Japanese submarines
in twelve days; as a result, the ship was credited with materially
impacting the course of the Pacific campaign and received the Presidential
Unit Citation. Williamson also holds the Legion of Merit for Combat and
the Silver Star Medal for Combat in the Pacific Area. While serving as an
instructor in Anti-Submarine Warfare and Seamanship in the Subchaser
Training Center in Miami, he developed a man overboard recovery procedure
that was later named the "Williamson Turn." This procedure is
currently used in the U.S. Navy as well as in other navies and merchants
marine, is known to naval officers and sailors throughout the world, and
is credited with saving countless lives at sea. Former Navy Captain
Williamson received the National Freedom Foundation Award for his open
address to Congress, "After 200 Years, A Citizen Speaks to
Congress," published July 4, 1976. In 1999 he was presented the
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service - the highest
medal that can be bestowed on a civilian. Mr. Williamson is well known in
the Defense Department establishment and has lectured military students on
numerous occasions, including the War College. He served on the boards of
numerous defense-related organizations, including the Destroyer Escort
Commanding Officers' Association, National Defense University Foundation
and the USS Alabama Battleship Foundation. As a civilian, Williamson was
extremely active in religious and civic affairs. He served on the boards
of numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the Boy Scouts
of America, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, IMPACT Family
Counseling, the King's Ranch, Rotary International District Leadership,
Re-Entry Ministries, SAV-America Ministries, and Cornerstone Schools of
Alabama. A prolific fundraiser, Williamson frequently chaired charitable
events. He also was active in the KAIROS prison ministry, and regularly
visited and encouraged those in prison.He also holds the Distinguished
Alumni Award, received in 1979 from Birmingham-Southern College, his alma
mater, and in 1990 was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from
Birmingham-Southern. Mr. Williamson was married to the former Jean
Cochran, his wife of fifty-two years who preceded him in death. They are
survived by three children, Lex Williamson (Mary), Wendy Martin (Raymond)
and Maggie Brooke (Will), and eleven grandchildren. Funeral services will
be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 5,
to be followed by a graveside service with military honors at Elmwood
Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to
the service. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel
(879-3401) in Homewood. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that
memorials be given to The
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama or IMPACT
Family Counseling. <>
Published in The Birmingham News from 5/4/2004 - 5/5/2004.
WILLIAMSON,
JOHN ALEXANDER, Birmingham businessman, patriot and philanthropist, passed
away May 2, 2004 at the age of 86. Mr. Williamson exemplified the best of
America both in wartime and in peacetime. As a Navy veteran of both World
War II and the Korean conflict, Mr. Williamson was decorated for bravery
and leadership. As a civilian he began his career as a Birmingham car
salesman, and ultimately went on to form several companies that operated
in most of the major countries in the world. A native of Birmingham, he
graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1939 with a degree in
Mathematics. Williamson became prominent in American automotive affairs
mainly through his consulting and training activities, which were based on
finding and filling customers' needs with high levels of professionalism
and integrity. These activities led to the creation of several allied
business firms, including John Williamson & Associates, later known as
Williamson, Merrill, Taylor, & Darling. He also was Founder and
Chairman of Key-Royal Automotive, whose mission was to increase
professionalism in the automobile business and to increase success of
automobile retailers. Key-Royal sought to attract bright young people into
the retail automobile field, teach them the business, and help them to
become independent dealers. Key-Royal grew to over 25 retail dealerships
throughout the United States, and operated a training arm that worked with
automobile manufacturers and dealers around the world. Mr. Williamson was
also a founder of Birmingham-based CARS, Inc., which was an early pioneer
in the integration of computers and technology in the automotive business.
CARS eventually became DYATRON and later merged into SunGuard Data
Systems, a specialty company in the operations of computers and computing
systems with products utilized in the automobile, banking, personnel,
brokerage and mortgage banking industries. John Williamson founded each of
these firms and served each as perpetual advocate, board member and, from
time-to-time, Chairman. In the U.S. Navy, Mr. Williamson served on
cruisers, destroyers, subchasers, and destroyer escorts. He commanded a
173-foot subchaser in the Caribbean and a destroyer escort in the Pacific
during World War II. As Executive Officer of the Destroyer Escort, USS
England, he directed his ship in attacks that sank six Japanese submarines
in twelve days; as a result, the ship was credited with materially
impacting the course of the Pacific campaign and received the Presidential
Unit Citation. Williamson also holds the Legion of Merit for Combat and
the Silver Star Medal for Combat in the Pacific Area. While serving as an
instructor in Anti-Submarine Warfare and Seamanship in the Subchaser
Training Center in Miami, he developed a man overboard recovery procedure
that was later named the "Williamson Turn." This procedure is
currently used in the U.S. Navy as well as in other navies and merchants
marine, is known to naval officers and sailors throughout the world, and
is credited with saving countless lives at sea. Former Navy Captain
Williamson received the National Freedom Foundation Award for his open
address to Congress, "After 200 Years, A Citizen Speaks to
Congress," published July 4, 1976. In 1999 he was presented the
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service - the highest
medal that can be bestowed on a civilian. Mr. Williamson is well known in
the Defense Department establishment and has lectured military students on
numerous occasions, including the War College. He served on the boards of
numerous defense-related organizations, including the Destroyer Escort
Commanding Officers' Association, National Defense University Foundation
and the USS Alabama Battleship Foundation. As a civilian, Williamson was
extremely active in religious and civic affairs. He served on the boards
of numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the Boy Scouts
of America, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, IMPACT Family
Counseling, the King's Ranch, Rotary International District Leadership,
Re-Entry Ministries, SAV-America Ministries, and Cornerstone Schools of
Alabama. A prolific fundraiser, Williamson frequently chaired charitable
events. He also was active in the KAIROS prison ministry, and regularly
visited and encouraged those in prison.He also holds the Distinguished
Alumni Award, received in 1979 from Birmingham-Southern College, his alma
mater, and in 1990 was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from
Birmingham-Southern. Mr. Williamson was married to the former Jean
Cochran, his wife of fifty-two years who preceded him in death. They are
survived by three children, Lex Williamson (Mary), Wendy Martin (Raymond)
and Maggie Brooke (Will), and eleven grandchildren. Funeral services will
be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 5,
to be followed by a graveside service with military honors at Elmwood
Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to
the service. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel
(879-3401) in Homewood. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that
memorials be given to 