I am also publishing this webpage so that people will be more aware of his significant contributions. I proposed to the university of south dakota president that the alcohol/drug abuse studies program that dr. williams started be named in memoriam of him. i do not know the official story behind this but from what i understand, he started the first alcohol/drug abuse bachelor's degree in the country and included years before it was popular, multicultural aspects to working with american indians. if anyone has any information or would write something, i could try and include it in this webpage, you can email me at kevinfirst@yahoo.com
instead of a guestbook, please email the following people to impress upon them the importance of this issue:EMAIL “CAMPAIGN”
Current acting president of the university of south Dakota dr. Donald C. Dahlin. presoff@usd.edu
Dr. Robert. C. Talley, Dean, University of South Dakota School of Medicine and
Vice President, Division of Health Affairs, under which the alcohol/drug abuse studies is under. rtalley@usd.edu
Current Director of Alcohol/Drug Abuse Studies dkenneal@usd.edu
John Williams
John R. Williams, 70, of Vermillion died Tuesday, Sept 4, 2001 at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls. Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2001 at the United Church of Christ, Vermillion with the Rev. Steve Miller officiating. Burial was in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Fairfax, at approximately 3 p.m. Visitations began Friday at 4 p.m. at the United Church of Christ (Vermillion) and continued until the time of the service. There was a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the church Friday evening. Kostel Funeral Home, Yankton in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. Williams was born June 13, 1931 to Joe and Stella (Valandry) Williams in Hot Springs. He spent much of his childhood living on a ranch south of Kadoka. He attended a country school for the first eight years and graduated from Martin High School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.
Following his honorable discharge, he attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, and earned a BS in industrial arts in 1959. While in Springfield, he met and married his wife of 42 years, Diane Wolf. He worked as a teacher and counselor at Todd County Schools in Mission until 1964. The family moved to Laramie, WY, where John earned his M. Ed. in guidance and counseling in 1965. The family returned to South Dakota, where he served as director of guidance at both the Todd County School System and Vermillion School District.
He worked at the Indian Community Action Program, Mount Marty College and Vermillion Ford. He received his Ed.D in guidance and counseling from The University of South Dakota in 1975. He developed, directed, and taught in the USD Alcohol & Drug Abuse Studies Program from 1973 until his death. He was an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
He is survived by his wife, Diane of Vermillion; son, Monte of Mission, KS; daughter, Joni Wilder, son-in-law, Kyle Wilder, grandson, Damon Wilder, all of Derby, KS; brother, Ward of Norris; sister, Rosemary Sayers of Rapid City; sister, Linda Westover of Parker, AZ; many nieces and nephews, and numerous relatives of the Vermillion Wase Wakpa Community.
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