Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 22, 1995 TAG: 9507240043
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The board passed the resolution Thursday naming the Virginia section of interstate the James A. Williams Jr. Memorial Highway and directing that appropriate signs be placed along it.
The resolution described Williams as "a one-man army who fought for and motivated the development and completion of Interstate 77 through our state."
The north-south highway enters the state from West Virginia and passes through the Bland, Wythe and Carroll counties before continuing into North Carolina. It joins Interstate 81 for nine miles in Wythe County. Wytheville Town Council and boards of supervisors in all three counties passed resolutions asking the Transportation Board to designate the highway as a memorial to Williams.
Williams died Dec. 23 at age 87 after suffering a series of strokes. He started working for the Southwest Virginia Enterprise at age 13 as a paper folder and, by 1945, had become its editor.
He eventually purchased the newspaper, selling it in 1982 but remaining as editor emeritus until 1985. It now is part of Family Community Newspapers of Southwest Virginia Inc.
Williams was an early crusader for highway development in Southwest Virginia. He founded the Great Lakes to Florida Highway Association, serving as its president for its first three decades.
Legislators and officials connected with highway development all became familiar with his colorful editorials on the subject and his association letters with their garish letterheads and unique phraseology pushing for ever-faster construction of the interstates through Southwest Virginia.
His last public appearance was in 1987, when he cut a ribbon officially opening the last link of Interstate 77 through Virginia.
by CNB