Richard Thaddeus Williams

Richard Thaddeus Williams, born to Marguerite Marigny and James Rudolph Williams at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 08, 1935. He was the fifth of nine children, with brothers James, Arkey, Donald, Kenneth, Wilson, and Cecil; and sisters Sonja and Johnetta. He and his siblings were raised in a single-parent household, wherein Marguerite instilled the importance of education. Richard was a natural athlete, extremely competitive. And yet he remained committed to education, graduating from Vallejo High School, and then on to Vallejo Junior College and San Francisco State University, earning a B.A. in Sociology. Richard would play division-one basketball at Gonzaga University before being drafted into the United States Army (1958-1960), where he played on the U.S. Army basketball team, entertaining troops on peacekeeping missions in Europe. Richard would later earn a Master's degree in Education from Sacramento State University. He worked in school administration for years, ultimately serving for fifteen years as principal at Hiram Johnson West Campus in Sacramento, CA. He retired in 1999. Richard remained athletic and competitive; he was a prominent member of the Sacramento Area Black Golfers Club, a coach for the NBA ProAm Summer League, and a formidable opponent in chess and dominos. Richard was inducted into the Solano College Hall of Fame, the Sacramento Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame. Richard is survived by his wife Dorothy McBride; sons Anthony Williams, Mark Williams, Dax Velarde, and Lee McBride; brother Wilson Williams and sisters Sonja Williams and Johnetta Doyle; grandchildren T'aja, Jayden, Margaret, Jones, Mark, Stacia, and Nadia; a host of nieces and nephews; and his fur babies Sassy and Ricardo.

He left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew him. His gentle spirit and unwavering kindness defined his essence, creating a legacy of warmth and compassion that will forever be cherished. Richard transitioned from his earthly body on Christmas Day of 2025, surrounded by love. He was 90 years old.

With love from the Williams family