Williams: The Faults in the University System

In Memoriam. Walter E. Williams was the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. From 1995 to 2001, he served as Chairman of the Economics Department. He held a B.A. in economics from California State University, Los Angeles, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from UCLA. He also held a Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Union University and Grove City College, a Doctor of Laws from Washington and Jefferson College, and a Doctor Honoris Causa en Ciencias Sociales from Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala, where he is also Professor Honorario. Dr. Williams authored over 150 publications which have appeared in scholarly journals such as Economic Inquiry, American Economic Review, Georgia Law Review, Journal of Labor Economics, Social Science Quarterly, and Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy and popular publications such as Newsweek, Ideas on Liberty, National Review, Reader’s Digest, Cato Journal, and Policy Review. He authored six books: America: A Minority Viewpoint; The State Against Blacks, which was later made into the PBS documentary; Good Intentions, All It Takes Is Guts, South Africa’s War Against Capitalism, which was later revised for South African publication; Do the Right Thing: The People’s Economist Speaks; and More Liberty Means Less Government. He made scores of radio and television appearances and occasionally as substitute host for the “Rush Limbaugh” radio show. In addition, Dr. Williams wrote a weekly nationally syndicated column carried by approximately 140 newspapers and several web sites. Dr. Williams served on several boards of directors including Grove City College, the Reason Foundation, and the Hoover Institution. He also served on numerous advisory boards including: Cato Institute, Landmark Legal Foundation, Institute of Economic Affairs, and Heritage Foundation.