John Williamson

WILLIAMSON

John Pritchard 1922 - 2014



John Pritchard Williamson, retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Toledo Edison Company, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2014, at Parkcliffe Community. He recently had been in declining health as a result of dementia. John was born February 22, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio to John and Jane Pritchard Williamson.

John was a self-made man of tremendous accomplishments and achievements. Losing his parents at an early age, he worked his way through Kent State University by delivering blocks of ice for food refrigeration. In 1974, John received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Kent State. His continual leadership roles with the university over many years resulted in the honorary dedication of the "Williamson Alumni Center" building. However, his most memorable achievement was to meet and marry fellow student, Helen Morgan. Together they would raise a family of 3 sons and share 69 years of marriage.

After graduating from Kent State in 1945 with a bachelor of science in business administration, John started his business career as a Certified Public Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Company. In 1951, he joined The Toledo Edison Company as its very first Director of Systems and Procedures. After advancing through a number of positions, he was named Secretary and Treasurer in 1962. In 1965, he was named Vice President-Finance and 3 years later became Senior Vice President. In 1972, John was again promoted, this time as Toledo Edison's President and Chief Executive Officer. Seven years later, he became the Chairman of the Board and CEO. By the time he retired from The Toledo Edison Company in 1986, he had served 14 years as its CEO.

John was highly respected throughout the public utilities community and was selected to head a number of their state and national organizations. He served as chairman of the East Central Area Reliability Council, President of the Ohio Electric Utility Institute, Executive Committee member of the Edison Electric Institute, Chairman of the Public Utilities Institute and Chairman of the National Electric Security Committee for United States. In 1984, he was selected by his industry peers to serve a 3 year term as the Chairman of the North American Electric Reliability Council. This organization represents all of the electric utility companies in both the United States and Canada.

John also felt a deep sense of responsibility to serve the communities of Toledo and surrounding areas. He was involved with the Toledo Kiwanis Club (past President), the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce (past President), the Ohio Chamber of Commerce (past Chairman), the Toledo Area United Way Campaign (past General Chairman), the United Way of Greater Toledo (past President), and the Toledo Council of the Boy Scouts of America (past Vice President). He also served on the board of directors of The Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Museum of Art, Riverside Hospital, Toledo Hospital, Toledo Trust Company, First National Bank of Toledo, American Red Cross - Toledo Chapter, Junior Achievement of Northwest Ohio, Boys Club of Toledo, Financial Analysts Society of Toledo, Covenant United Presbyterian Church (founding elder) and Epworth United Methodist Church (foundation chairman).

In 1976, John was named "Toledo Area Citizen of the Year" by the Toledo Board of Realtors. That same year he was also awarded a recognition plaque by the Mayor and City Council of Toledo for his skilled leadership as the first Chairman of the Toledo Development Committee. Its purpose was to provide a blueprint for the future development of downtown Toledo and specifically for the revitalization of the waterfront. It was always John's belief that the area along Water Street should remain "open" so views of the Maumee River could be enjoyed by all the citizens of Toledo. He was also very instrumental in the establishment of Promenade Park next to Water Street Station.

His spirit of community beautification can also be found in his spearheading the campaign to light the Anthony Wayne Hi-Level Bridge and also the campus of the University of Toledo. The Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain, a gift to the University by the Toledo Edison Company for the Centennial of Light (1879-1979) celebration is still enjoyed by all who pass by. An inscription on the fountain reads as follows:

"As Thomas A. Edison brought the light of electricity to mankind, this university brings the light of knowledge to its scholars." - John P. Williamson, Chairman of Toledo Edison Company.

John is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, John M. (Karol) Williamson, James R. Williamson and Wayne A. (Kathy) Williamson; grandson, John R. (Stephanie) Williamson and great-grandson, John D. Williamson. Also surviving are family members, Christopher (Kim) Seitz, Lisa (Greg) Bowling, Laura (Tom) Baird and Jamison (Amanda) Adams. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ivor Williamson; sister, Betty Irwin, and Danny Adams Jr.

The family will receive guests Wednesday, October 29, 2014, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., Toledo, Ohio. Internment at historic Joy Cemetery in Ottawa Hills will be private. A memorial service will be held in the Reed Chapel at Swan Creek Retirement Village, 5916 Cresthaven Lane, on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks a donation be considered to a charity of the donor's choice or to the ProMedica Toledo Children's Hospital Foundation, 2142 N. Cove Blvd., Toledo, Ohio, 43606, in honor of "John D. Williamson - Pediatric Leukemia Treatment Program." The family would like to express its appreciation to the staff and caregivers at Swan Creek Retirement Village, Parkcliffe Community and Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

A special thank you is extended to all the talented and dedicated employees at the Toledo Edison Company who so enriched John's life. Please view and sign our online "guest registry" at:

CoyleFuneralHome.com