William J. Williams Sr.

CINCINNATI - William J. Williams Sr., one of the owners of the Cincinnati Reds from their Big Red Machine days, died Sunday. He was 93. The death was announced by a release on the team's Web site. A cause of death was not given. Williams was part of a small group that bought the team in 1966 and celebrated back-to-back World Series championships in 1975-76. His family sold controlling interest in team in 1985. In 2006, sons W. Joseph Williams Jr. and Thomas L. Williams were part of a group that bought controlling interest in the Reds, along with Bob Castellini. Williams also was a founding owner of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 and retained a share of the NFL team until his death.