Bobby Williams, a noted and well-known local citizen, businessman, politician, and man of many other hats passed away at the age of 96 on December 26, 2025.
Williams leaves behind years of public service, whether in the military or dedicating his time to the betterment of our local communities. He lived a full and interesting life and leaves a legacy seemingly unmatched by numerous other local servants.
He was born on September 23, 1929 and his family lived in a log cabin with a two-holed outhouse situated on the Mt. Carmel Cut-Off Road with no electricity or running water. His birthdate preceded the Great Depression by three months. Their father gardened and provided for his family. Bobby entered public school at the age of five and graduated with the Class of 1946 of Florien High School at the age of 16.
Eager to seek his fortune, he immediately reported to Barks- dale Field and joined the Army- Air Force. He received his basic training at Sheppard AFB and was then assigned to Aerial Photography School at Scott Field AFB in Illinois. Williams military career was cut short soon after, when it was discovered that he was only 16. He was honorably discharged and returned to Louisiana. However, he did earn World War II Bill of Rights, including his education. He also received his World War II Victory and Sharp Shooter medals, during his short stint in the service. In 1946-47 he attended Refrigeration G.I. School at England Air Force Base in Alexandria. In 1948, he continued his education at in Leesville in radio repair at the Electronics G.I. School. Armed with technical skills, he joined Wright’s Tire and Appliance in Many and began working for Melvin Wright.
In 1950, Williams opened his own business on the Fisher Road and named it Sabine Refrigeration Co. A year later he closed the business and lost everything of value except his pick-up truck and tools. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951, serving in a detachment that flew radio- controlled airplanes during the Korean War. After receiving his (second) honorable discharge in 1953, he served in the Army Reserve until 1957.
In 1953, he returned to Sabine Parish and made two life changes. He opened Williams Appliance Service and married Lola Jean Lewing.
A year later he purchased and renovated a two-story brick building (old Post Office building). After a year, he sold the business and joined the faculty of the local technical school. At the Sabine Parish Vo-Tech School, he taught basic electronics, television and twoway radio repair. From 1957-58 he attended Northwestern State College.
In 1959 he re-entered the appliance sales and service business with his brother, the late Ray Williams. The partners named the business, Williams Brothers Appliance Service, Inc.
After nine years of success, the partners built a large, new facility on Fisher Road and moved their business. They expanded their business to include furniture and the rest is history. The store remained in business for years, with his nephews, Malcom and Roderick Williams, as the owners.
From 1968 to 2000, Williams served as president and general manager of Williams Brothers. His brother, Ray, died in 1992 and eight years later, Williams retired and sold his portion of the store.
Williams branched out in the early 1990s and purchased Wright Shopping Center, which he still owned at the time of his death. He also became general manager of Sandy Hill Mall at Fort Polk in 2004 and continues to operate that business venture.
Over the years, he has been involved in other business ventures, including President/ CEO Jackson Williams Water Well Services, which bored open water wells and installed water pumps, 1975-1986; President/ CEO of Williams Bros. Drilling Company, Inc., which was responsible for drilling water test wells over north and central Louisiana for USGS and municipal production wells, 1975-1984; Vice President of the Louisiana Hayride Productions, which produced Louisiana Hayride shows for television, 1987; and Board member and Vice President of National Affiliated Corporation and National Investors Life Insurance Company, Inc. 1982-1988.
Flying and aircraft have always been of great interest to Williams. In 1963 he became a private pilot and bought his own single-engine plane. He logged over 3,000 hours in the air.
Utilizing his skills as a pilot, he joined the Louisiana Wing, Civil Air Patrol in 1977 and was a member of the Aerial Search and Rescue team of the United States Air Force. After 32 years, he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 2009. Before retirement, as commander of the CAP Legislative Squadron, he recruited all of the Louisiana U.S. Congressmen and Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter into the Congressional Squad at Bolling Air Force Base, located in Washington, D.C.
Throughout his time with the Civil Air Patrol, he attended numerous military seminars and graduated from the USAF Region Staff College at Kirkland AFB in New Mexico (1992) and the National Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama, (1993).
Williams continued to use his knowledge of flying by serving on the Mayor’s Hart Airport Committee for the Town of Many.
Known as a successful businessman, Williams has a lengthy resume when it comes to public service.
In 1968, he became a notary for life.
His first elected office was as alderman for the Village of Florien in 1964. He served a six- year term until 1970 and served as treasurer. During his term, a water system with meters was installed at all residence and commercial establishments and the Board of Aldermen negotiated with Trans-La Gas Company to install natural gas meters to all village residence and commercial businesses.
In 1977, Williams was elected to the Sabine Parish School Board, representing the Florien School District. He served for 10 years on various committees including finance, transportation and food services and was President of the Board in 19831984.
In 1989 he was named to the Board of Directors of Sabine State Bank, and served until 2008. Always interested in making Sabine Parish a better place, Williams has devoted many hours to worthwhile causes. In 1976 he became a member of the Western Corridor Commission, involved in building a major highway from Shreveport to Lake Charles. He continued to serve and was also a member of the El Camino Real East/West Corridor Commission, constructing US Highway 6 and U.S. Hwy. 84.
Williams also served on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Sabine River Authority from 2004-2007. In 2006 he became a member of the Sabine River Authority, serving as secretary and on the water sales and lease- back committee. He also chaired the Finance/ Personnel Committee, as he continued to serve on the SRA.
In 2006-2007, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee for Valley Electric Co-Op.
Since 2005, Williams has represented Louisiana on the Sabine River Compact Administration, along with Dr. Brandon of Leesville.
Williams also served on the Sabine Parish Sales/Use Tax Commission, a position he has held since 1992; and was a member/director of the West Louisiana Veterans Park since 2004.
In 1954, he joined the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce and remained a member for decades. He also holds memberships in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Korean Veterans organizations.
Williams is a 32nd degree Mason and in 2010, served as Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Masonic District, of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine Order, which works with the Shriners Hospitals for Children Williams was elected to the Republican State Central Committee and served over 10 years as the Dist. 24-A Representative.
He also served as a trustee of the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council.
Although he has made a career of service, not only in his business, but in his life, Williams is family-oriented. He and his wife, Jean, are the parents of five children— Michael Ray Williams, Sammy DeLane Williams, Bryan Alan Williams, Brad Eric Williams and Tina Ann Williams Manasco.
The couple also boasts of 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
The family likes to sit around and reminisce of the good times, as Williams takes them on adventures of his life through colorful stories.
His first job was at age 12, when he set up bowling pins in a Port Arthur (Tex.) bowling alley. Not long after, he wore a little green hat and delivered Western Union telegrams, which turned out to be death notices from the war.
He learned to drive a Model T, sitting on his uncle’s lap at the age of six. (Perhaps this began his lifelong love of older model cars, which he proudly drove in area parades for years.)
In 1947, Williams reportedly made a record on a recording machine owned by C.D. Hancock of Many. Some say he still has the recording.
One time he ran out of gas mid-air and attempted to land at Hart Airport with the help of friends’ car headlights. However, he crashed because he neglected to put down his landing gear. Williams truly led a fascinating and busy life!