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Specialty-Equipment Industry Mourns the Loss of Neal Williams

By SEMA Editors

  williams
Neal Williams
  
A memorial service was held today at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta for industry veteran Neal Williams, chairman emeritus of the N.A. Williams Co., who passed away February 14. He was 78.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our esteemed and beloved leader, Neal Williams,” said Roger McCollum, president and CEO of N.A. Williams. “It is impossible to speak of Neal other than in superlatives. A true gentleman, he was kind, generous and possessed great personal charm. All who knew him were drawn to him. His encouragement, counsel and wisdom will be greatly missed. While we have lost a great mentor and friend, his sterling qualities will live on and continue to inspire us.”

After attending the University of Georgia and service in the United States Army, Williams joined N.A. Williams Co. in 1959—the firm founded by his father in 1934. During a long, successful career that spanned more than 50 years, Williams led the company to become one of the top manufacturers’ representative firms in North America.

In 2009, Williams was presented with the Martin Fromm Lifetime Achievement award by the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). In 2010, N.A. Williams Co. was recognized as the Georgia mid-size Family Business of the Year. He received the Northwood University Outstanding Business Leader Award in 2012.