James Lawrence Williamson, 95, of St. Simons Island, Georgia passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Georgia. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends one-half hour prior to the services at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
James Williamson was born February 28, 1929, on the small rural farm where he was raised in Ben Hill County, Georgia. He was the youngest son of the late George Lafayette Williamson, Sr. and Clarice Livingston Williamson. He attended Fitzgerald High School then majored in Animal Husbandry at the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture cum laude in 1951. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois under a General Education Board Fellowship and received a Master of Science degree in Agriculture in 1952. He served for two years as an intelligence officer in Okinawa for the 19th Bomb Wing and the 20th Air Force Headquarters until the end of the Korean war. He remained in the Air Force Reserves, eventually resigning his commission as a Major.
After his active Air Force duty tour, Mr. Williamson returned to the University of Illinois and received a PhD in Animal Science in 1957. He was hired by Ralston Purina to do Beef Cattle and Sheep research and lived in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to doing animal nutrition research, he did product development at the Purina Research Farm and technical services work with the sales force, dealers and customers in the U.S. and several foreign countries. He served as the Division Vice President for the Purina Chow Division with responsibilities for all research and technical staffs, as well as the Gray Summit, MO Purina Research Farm and a beef research ranch in Oklahoma. He also served as a member of the management board for the Chow Division. He transferred to the Ralston Purina corporate group as Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Research until his retirement.
During his 33-year career with Ralston Purina he was active in several University, Industry and government organizations. He was Chairman of the Agricultural Research Institute in Washington D.C. and on advisory committees for the USDA and FDA. He was also on advisory committees for several Universities, including Auburn University, Berry College, University of California, University of Missouri, Purdue University, Texas A & M, and Texas Tech.
Dr. Williamson was Chairman of the Nutrition Council of the American Feed Manufacturers Association, a Director and Fellow of the American Society of Animal Sciences, and a founding member, President and the first Life Member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. In 2010 he was presented the ARPAS Distinguished Professional Animal Scientist Award.
During his retirement, he and his late wife moved to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri and then relocated to St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1995. They were active in their local churches and enjoyed traveling while their health allowed. They were very supportive of the 4-H Organization and firm believers in the value of education. Dr. Williamson developed educational projects for school classrooms and clubs that taught about animals and their environments.
Dr. Williamson was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Renee' L. Williamson. He is survived by their three daughters, Renee' (Jim) Diskin of St. Simons Island, Lisa (Dan) Wichern of Mexico, MO and Rise' Williamson of St. Louis, MO; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In addition to his late wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, brother G. L. Williamson, Jr., sisters Grace W. Reeves and Lois Powell, all of their spouses and three nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to their local 4-H organization (https//4-h.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.