James Rawls Williams
On the night of Feb. 27, 2025, James Rawls Williams, age 79, died in Colorado Springs, CO. Jim was born to Eunice and Rawls Williams on June 1, 1945, at Brown Hospital in Mexia, Texas. Jim graduated in 1963 from Groesbeck H.S. and was a proud Groesbeck Goat.
Jim remembered a happy childhood, including going to school barefooted and riding his pet horse. He was a Boy Scout, earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout, and he played high school football for the Groesbeck Goats. Jim attended the First Baptist Church where he met Janie Croft, a fateful encounter that would change their lives forever. They were married on June 8, 1968, at the First Baptist Church, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey together.
Jim and Janie were blessed with three children. Their firstborn, Matthew James Williams, passed away as a newborn, leaving a void in Jim's heart. Their son, Ethan Rawls Williams, lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Beth, and their daughter, Lauren. Their daughter, Bethany Jane Williams, who lives in Denver, is married to Jason Humphrey and is the loving mother of Rowan Williams Humphrey. Jim graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering and earned master’s degrees in engineering from both the University of Texas and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jim was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1968 and served his country as a satellite systems engineer. He was one of the early pioneers of military satellite operations and his time in the Air Force included an assignment as an Instructor at the United States Air Force Academy. After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, Jim continued to work in satellite operations as a civilian, ultimately retiring from Lockheed-Martin.
Everyone joked that Jim was busier in retirement than during his working days. He was involved in many organizations including: the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society (where he served as program chairman), Sons of the Republic of Texas (his family were Limestone County pioneers), Sons of the American Revolution, Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Trout Unlimited (was awarded Outstanding Volunteer for Colorado in both 2009 and 2022), Colorado Rodmakers Reunion, Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Blue River Watershed Group, Mt. Carmel Veteran’s Service Center Food Distribution, and the Summit County Historical Society. When he wasn’t serving his community, you could find Jim hunting for deer, elk, or antelope or knee deep in a stream fly fishing.
Every summer, Jim mentored young adults at Trout Unlimited Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp. He always was impressed by the energy and optimism of the campers and the uplifting effect that they had on his spirit. Because of his involvement with Fish Camp, Jim was awarded Colorado Trout Unlimited Outstanding Volunteer for 2022.
Jim was one of three co-founders and co-leaders of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at Ft. Carson, a group that works with wounded military soldiers through fly tying and fly fishing. He was named a Volunteer of the Year for the Rocky Mountain Region for 2011.
Jim enjoyed spending time in the high country of Colorado. His love of the natural world and his sense of wonder meant you could find him totally absorbed in a sunset, a snowfall, a wildflower in bloom, a grove of yellow aspens on the mountainside, a deer crossing the yard, or any of a hundred other things that would fascinate his brilliant mind.
Jim leaves you with these thoughts: Go, Do, Experience all life has to offer!
Donations in Jim’s memory can be made to:
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Colorado Springs Chapter, 913 E. Fillmore Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80907-6315 or projecthealingwaters.org, please specify Colorado Springs Chapter.
Colorado Trout Unlimited, coloradotu.org, please specify Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp.