Great Living Cincinnatians
William J. Williams
Awarded in 1995
Ask William J. Williams about himself and he becomes a man of few words. His actions, however, speak volumes.
Williams is fiercely loyal to Cincinnati, its people and its institutions. His business leadership, his long-term involvement with charitable organizations and cultural institutions, and his personally generous philanthropic activities have touched countless lives in Greater Cincinnati.
Williams, 79, is chairman of Western & Southern Life Insurance Co., which his father co-founded more than a century ago. A graduate of Georgetown University, he joined the company in 1939.
"I love the insurance business," Williams said. "I loved that I was able to work hard and move up. People might say, 'Well, it was your father's business,' but I started out as an agent and sold."
From 1954 to 1984, he remained on Western & Southern's board of directors, but left the company to be president of North American Management and Development Co. While he is modest about his accomplishments, Williams is enthusiastic about his company's significant role in Greater Cincinnati real estate and economic development. Projects he created include Kenwood Plaza, Northgate Mall, Florence Mall, Provident Tower and River Terrace Apartments.
Williams and his brother, James, became stockholders in the Cincinnati Reds in 1966. In 1980, they increased their stake and became managing partners, then sold controlling interest in the club in 1985. He is also an owner of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Williams returned to Western & Southern in 1984 as president and chief operating officer and became president and CEO in 1988. He was named chairman the following year.
In addition to his insurance work, he has served on the boards of many business, cultural and charitable organizations.
His guiding philosophy through life, said Mr. Williams, was something his eighth-grade teacher wrote in a little book she gave him at graduation from Summit Country Day School: "Be true to your own soul and you won't be false to any man."