Rick Williams

WILLIAMS, Rick Award-winning photographer, author, scholar and educator Rick Williams died Aug. 3, 2018, in Springfield, Oregon, after a sudden illness. Rick's life was full and deep with family, friends and a continuing legacy of work and contributions to the lives of others. Born in Houston, Rick was a fifth-generation Texan. For almost 30 years, Rick ran Rick Williams Photography in Austin, developing specialties in social documentary and technology. His book Working Hands documents Texas' ranch, oil and high-tech cultures. Rick was founding board member, president and executive director of the Texas Photographic Society. His photographs have been shown in some 100 exhibitions and are archived in numerous permanent collections. Rick pioneered visual and art education, founding the Photo-Communications Program at St. Edward's University. Rick taught photojournalism and visual literacy at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oregon and was Dean of the Arts, Lane Community College 2005-2016. He founded ArtsWork in Education (AWE) to teach arts learning processes to public school students to enhance their performance across the disciplines. Rick's research explored the theory and practice of art as a core component of a comprehensive education. His book Visual Communication: Integrating Media, Art and Science won the Marshall McLuhan Award for Best Book of 2009, and a second edition is due out in 2019. Rick is survived by his wife, Julianne Newton Williams of Eugene, Oregon; sons, Joshua Springer Williams and wife Bryn of Austin, and Matthew Sojourner Newton and wife Sofia of Albany, CA; daughter Katherine Ruth Williams Waitzkin and husband Graeme of Dallas; grandchildren, Miles, Wills and Shields Waitzkin; Sage and Farrah Williams; and Elliott and Finlay Newton; sister Pamela Bunderson and husband Steve of Salt Lake City; brother Mark Williams and wife Tina of Savannah, Ga.; former wife Nancy Springer Baldwin of Austin; former wife Cindy Roup Harp of Austin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Rick's family and friends will celebrate his beautiful life at 3 pm Friday, Sept. 7, at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 1500 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746, with reception following. All are welcome. A second celebration of life will be held at 4 pm Sunday, October 7, on the banks of the Willamette River at Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm near Eugene, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Rick to the Rick Williams Fund, Creative Action's Teen Programs, https://creativeaction.org. (Photograph by Frank Armstrong.)