Joseph Thomas Williams

Joseph Thomas "J.T." Williams of Show Low, Arizona, passed away on December 3, 2024 at Everwood Assisted Living , Peoria, Arizona. He was 88 years old. Born in Cullman County, Alabama, November 1, 1936, beloved husband of Cheryl Ann Farver Williams. Son to Verlon and Nonnie Hudson Williams, brother to Dolores, Faye, Donald, Ruben, Carolyn, Diann, Londa and Flavin. Father to Jeffery Williams, and Kathy Daniels Balzano, Grandfather to Jonathan, Christopher, Travis, Ashley and Taylor. Great grandfather to Henry, Naomi and River.

"J.T. Williams has designed, built, and operated astronomical instrumentation at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory sites worldwide for more than 50 years. After studying electrical engineering and optics, he served in the U.S. Navy submarine service before joining the Smithsonian at the Haleakala (Maui) Observatory in 1959. He served as master observer and in technical management positions in the SAO Satellite Tracking Program (1959-65), network manager of artificial and faint radar/optical meteor programs (1965-71), field manager of the Mt. Hopkins Observatory (1972-75), manager for site planning and construction of the Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory (1975-79), and assistant director for MMTO operations and development in collaboration with the University of Arizona (1980—2010). Williams served as project engineer in the conversion of the MMT to a single mirror 6.5-meter telescope during the 1990s. He also served as interim director of the MMTO from May 2004-November 2005."

He dedicated his life to the truths of science for Smithsonian and the University of Arizona working to enable astronomical research by helping to locate and build Arizona's Large Binocular Telescope on Mt Graham and the Whipple Observatory's Multiple Mirror Telescope on Mt Hopkins including its conversion to a single mirror. Career highlights were US Navy Electronics School, Diving, satellite tracking and life-long cooperative astronomical research projects around the world through the Smithsonian Institution. Notable travels were for observatories in Hawaii, Germany, Italy, India, Russia, Chile and China.

He was proud to serve under Jimmy Carter on the Nautilus.

His retirement cake read "The Project Engineer that really knew how to Engineer a Project."

His bright determination and ingenuity were sparked by a rich life growing up on a farm in northern Alabama.

During retirement in the White Mountains of Arizona, he loved hiking in the forests and spending time at the lakes near Show Low.

Everyone that had the pleasure of working with J.T. knew that he had a very unique engineering talent and that he was both innovative and practical.

Supporting local Food Banks was a passion for J.T. In his memory please consider donating to your local Food Bank or to your favorite charity.