Hon. Robert L. Williams, Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Hon. Robert L. Williams.  A man of powerful mentality, broad vision and public spirit, Hon. Robert L. Williams is devoting his undoubted talents to the legal profession and to statesmanship, and is not only one of the able attorneys practicing at the bar of Arcadia, but is representing Bienville Parish in the Louisiana State Assembly.  He was born at Arcadia, in 1931, son of Berry and Jane (Cathey) Williams.  The paternal grand father, John Williams, was one of the pioneers of the parish, having come to this region, in 1830, from Tennessee.   At that time all of the parish was a wilderness, habited by wild animals, and for some years the most primitive of pioneer conditions prevailed.   In the course of time, however, a valuable farming property was developed, on Williams Creek, about five miles from Arcadia, and it was on this farm that Berry Williams was born, in 1844.  The maternal grandfather came of Scotch ancestry, although he was born in New York City almost immediately following the arrival in that city of his Parents from Edinborough, Scotland.

A solid foundation having been laid in the common schools of Arcadia, Mr. Williams of this review studied law in the office of Judge J. E. Reynolds, of Arcadia, and did so to such good effect that he passed the state bar examinations and was admitted to the bar in 1912.  Since that time he has been engaged in a general practice at Arcadia, and has been so successful in the handling of his cases that he is now recognized as one of the prominent members of this learned calling in Northern Louisiana.

From his youth up interested in politics, very early in his career Mr. Williams began to make his influence felt, and in 1920 was elected to the State Assembly to represent his parish for a term of four years.  The record he made for himself in that body was such that he was reelected upon it, to succeed himself, in 1924, for another term of four years.  During the time he has been in the house he has introduced and supported some of the most important bills brought before it.  At present he is very greatly interested in the state-wide school tax measure, in the 1924 session he was chairman of the important committee on corporations, and he was also a member of the committees on Judiciary "A," education, and others of large import, for his knowledge and legal training are sought by his fellow members in their deliberations.  Because of his special fitness for legislative work, and his ability to produce results, he is regarded as one of the most useful and constructive members of the present House.

Mr. Williams belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

NOTE:  The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 345-346, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.