BOB "BOOTS" WILLIAMS

Robert D. Williams was better known as "Boots" during his 20 years selling Fords in South Kansas City. He died on June 6, 2010, in Las Vegas where he had made his home for the past 14 years. With him during his brief hospital stay were his daughter, Robyn, and son, Mark. They had worked with their dad in the Williams Ford dealership. Also present was his youngest daughter, Melanie Bullock, of Roswell, NM. They praised their Dad as "a very loving father and we miss him dearly." His eldest son, the late R. D. Williams, of Raymore, was the Williams Ford service manager for 18 years. Boots was born July 3, 1926, in Johnstown, Nebraska, and served in the Navy during WWII. He was proud of his ranch country heritage and kept several horses at his farm home in Raymore. Foremost was "White Storm," the horse used in TV commercials during the grand opening of Williams Ford in 1975. The western theme prevailed for the next 20 years with the help of local ad man, Bill Dietz, who played "Col. Billy" in a continuing series of wild and funny TV commercials. Ultimately, Boots and Billy wore barrel apparel as they stripped prices on Ford cars. The dealership was honored on the "Real People" show, which had car dealers in national competition for "Craziest Car Commercials." "We came in a close second," recalls Col. Billy, who still lives in South Kansas City. "We lost to the Cal Worthington dealerships in California and it was a real disappointment, because we wanted first in the worst way. Boots was my dare-to-be-different client and friend for forty years," he adds. Memorial service is 2 p.m., June 21, at Evangelical Free Church, East Highway 20, RR2, Ainsworth, NE, 69210. Phone 402-387-0755.