DAVID T. WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS--David T. Internationally renowned interior designer for the hotel and hospitality industry for over 65 years peacefully passed away at his home in New York City on July 5, 2014. Born in Burlington, IA on April 10, 1918, David, a Veteran of World War II began his career as an interior decorator at Marshall Field & Company in Chicago, Il. It was in 1946 when hotel magnet, Conrad N. Hilton through Marshall Fields hired David to decorate the Stevens Hotel in Chicago (renamed The Conrad Hilton in 1951). Impressed by his extraordinary talent and creative ability, Hilton hired David to work at the Hilton Hotels Corporation as Vice President and Director Statler Hilton Studios. When Conrad Hilton purchased The Waldorf-Astoria in 1949, David moved to New York to work on the decor of both The Waldorf and The Plaza Hotels. David's genius for design was soon found in hotels around the world. His success continued and in 1958 he established his own company David T. Williams Inc. His business flourished with the addition of new hotel companies and clients; Loews, Canadian Pacific, Forte, Hyatt, the corporate offices of Hilton Hotels, the Cornell Club in New York to name a few. In November 1996 in celebration of his 50 years of decorating for Hilton Hotels, David was inducted into The Waldorf-Astoria Distinguished Alumni. On the occasion Barron Hilton, the son of Conrad and former Chairman of Hilton Hotels Corporation wrote to David "the standards that you set at the many flagship Hilton Hotels still stand today as examples of your outstanding interior design work. The mark of design excellence which you have left imprinted throughout the world has been a great tradition in the hotel industry and will be long remembered." David was preceded by his parents - Nora and Edward Williams; his brother, Clarence Williams and sister, Lillian Gamet. He leaves his brother William E. Williams and sister-in-law Doddie Williams of Spokane, WA along with several nieces and nephews. As per his wish, David has been cremated and will be buried with his parents in Missouri. Later there will be a gathering of friends to remember David T. and his wonderful life.