Williams, Howard "Junior" Jr. 1926-2013

WILLIAMS, MECKLEY, BROWN, MERCER, JEWELL, SWANSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/22/2013 at 07:53:51

Howard “Junior” Williams Jr., 87, of Colfax died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton.

A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Howard Street Christian Church with burial following at McKeever Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today, Feb. 18, at the church with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the ITBOA Scholarship Fund or the Colfax Fire Department. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com .... ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News Website.
===============================================
Howard Williams, Jr.
February 11, 1926 - February 15, 2013

Howard "Junior" Williams, Jr., age 87 of Colfax, died Friday, February 15, 2013, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. at the Howard Street Christian Church, with burial following at McKeever Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Monday, February 18, 2013 from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church. The family will greet friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the ITBOA Scholarship Fund or the Colfax Fire Department. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com .

The son of Howard Williams, Sr. and Ruth (Meckley) Williams, Junior was born on February 11, 1926, in rural Colfax. He graduated from Colfax High School in 1943. Junior served in the United States Air Force. On January 6, 1950, he was united in marriage to Shirley C. Brown in Des Moines. Junior owned and operated the Jasper County Tribune for 45 years. He also worked at the Post Office for 15 years and Prairie Meadows for 17 years. Junior was a member of the Howard Street Christian Church, the Typographical Union, Iowa Newspaper Association, served on the Colfax Mingo School Board where he served as President and was a long time member of the Jasper County Fair Board. He also served as President of the Colfax Chamber of Commerce and the Colfax Country Club. Junior was an avid bowler and golfer. He enjoyed horseback riding and was a long time breeder and owner of Thoroughbred horses, which he mainly ran in the Midwest. Junior was also an Iowa State Cyclone fan.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Shirley, two sons, Bryan Williams of Colfax and Brad Williams and his wife Kathy of Des Moines; a grandson, Jason Williams, and a sister, Mary Ruth Mercer and her husband Don of Kansas City, Missouri. Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters, Leona Jewell and Doris Swanson, and a daughter-in-law, Loralyn Williams. ~ The Coburn Funeral Home Website, Colfax, Iowa.
==============================================
Former Tribune Publisher Passes

By Bob Eschliman
Jasper County Tribune Editor

Howard Williams was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a former postal employee, a long-time member of both the Colfax-Mingo School Board and the Jasper County Fair Board, and was once president of the Colfax Chamber of Commerce.

But the former publisher of the Jasper County Tribune still went by the name “Junior.”

Williams, 87, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Howard Street Christian Church, and burial followed at McKeever Cemetery.

Born Feb. 11, 1926, in rural Colfax, Junior was the son of Howard Williams Sr. and Ruth (Meckley) Williams. He graduated from Colfax High School in 1943, and then served in the U.S. Air Force.

He married his wife, Shirley C. Brown, Jan. 6, 1950, in Des Moines. And, a short time later, he bought the Tribune, which he then operated for the next 45 years. During that time, he served in a number of capacities with the Iowa Press Association, and its successor organization, the Iowa Newspaper Association.

Allyn Arthur, who purchased the Tribune from Junior in June of 1994, recalls how Junior took him around the local communities and made him feel welcomed as the transition took place. “Junior was a hard worker but always made sure he worked in his regular coffee-breaks at Weirick’s, where he swapped stories with George and Royal and others who stopped by.”

Arthur adds, “I can’t imagine the amount of hours that Junior put in in the early days at the newspaper when all the type was set by hand on the old linotype printers and Junior would work through the night getting the paper done.”

“I’m going to miss seeing him around Colfax, as will a lot of his many long-time friends.”

“We’re going to miss him,“ City Clerk Kathy Mathews said. “He never complained, and always had a smile on his face. He was just a wonderful guy.”

Additionally, Williams worked for 15 years at the Colfax Post Office, as well as 17 years at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Altoona, which allowed him an avenue to explore his passion for thoroughbred horse breeding. He also was a long-time member of the Jasper County Fair Board.

Junior served on the Colfax-Mingo School Board, as well as on the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of both organizations’ governing boards.

Phil Webb of RE/MAX Town & County commented on William’s passing as a member of the Colfax Main Street.

“Junior was one of the last of previous generation of business leaders in Colfax,” he said. “He worked hard both as owner of the Jasper Count y Tribune and as a local business owner in promoting Colfax, ~Jasper County and local schools, and our Jasper County 4-H/FFA Fair. He served on many different boards and left a positive impression of a passionate person wanting the best for the community, especially for our community’s young people. Junior did not act alone, but had the support of his family and many friends in his endeavors that benefited the community.”

Marty Lucas, superintendent of Colfax-Mingo Schools, said he did not personally know Williams, but had met him once or twice. Lucas noted Williams’ son, Bryan, was a teacher in the school district.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this time,“ he said. “It’s always a difficult time when a parent passes. Right now, we wish the family all the best.”

He also was an avid bowler and golfer. He was a devout Iowa State Cyclone fan, as well. And, he was a long-time member of the Howard Street Christian Church. ~ The Jasper County Tribune, Colfax, Iowa 21 Feb 2013.