Like many, I find myself saddened to hear of the untimely passing of economist
and conservative giant Walter E. Williams today. Dr. Williams was
84. I haven't checked the blog with the search engine, but I'm sure Dr. Williams is among the most quoted people here.
Townhall carries a great tribute column:
Walter Williams, the John M. Olin distinguished professor of economics at George Mason University and longtime columnist, has died at the age of 84.
Williams began writing a weekly column, "A Minority View," in 1981, the penultimate one was titled "Black Education Tragedy Is New," and published Wednesday. According to Creators, his final column will publish next week, which will be available at Townhall, where his columns have appeared for more than 25 years. He is also the author of 10 books, including the most recent, "Race and Economics: How Much Can Be Blamed on Discrimination?" and "Up from the Projects: An Autobiography," and published more than 150 scholarly articles, according to Economic Policy Journal.
Walter Williams worked unto the last. Thomas Sowell, another great economist I've quoted here, and a long time friend to Walter Williams wrote a touching tribute to his friend, which Townhall has also published today. Dr. Sowell relays that Walter once told him he hoped that, on the day he died, he would have taught a class that day. And that is just the way it was, when he died today.
RIP Dr. Williams.
He was one of the greatest thinkers in the last 50 years and had a quiet hunger for truth.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Sir.
When I first got online in the early 90's, I went looking for conservative columnists beyond the token one or two our local rag printed (usually Cal Thomas or George Will). To my enduring delight, I found hundreds, including a category I had no idea existed: Black conservatives. Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell are heroes of mine to this day.
ReplyDeleteThere's a quote from him that I've used a couple of times and really like.
ReplyDeleteOne example - it's a picture with quote at the bottom.
Society is greatly diminished by his passing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame. But then again, he was pretty old. He gave what he could. What's sad is you just don't see that kind of clarity and candor any more.
ReplyDeleteHe had many great lines, but one that cracked me up the most was when he was hosting Rush and a caller kept saying the word "contribution" or some such silliness. He said he wouldn't call it that. So the caller asked what he'd call it. "Grand theft". The then explained 'what else would you call it when you take from one person and give to another who hasn't earned it (or deserve it? can't remember)
His autobiography is a really good read. The dedication to his late wife had my heart aching before I hit the first chapter.
I just read the Sowell piece, and was reminded of all the times when he hosted Rush where he'd talk about Mrs. Williams. Often saying something funny like he was thinking of getting her a new vacuum for her birthday. She'd appreciate being more efficient using it.
DeleteHe'll be missed.
In 2007 when I'd tell someone I wouldn't vote for Obama, and they'd call me a racist, I'd say I'd vote for Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing was none of my accusers knew who they were.
RIP, Mr. Williams.
I cracked up over Thomas Sowell's story that "Walter holding a black belt in karate,was a tough customer. One night three men jumped him -- and two of those men ended up in a hospital". TeX
ReplyDeleteExcellent tribute - thank you.
ReplyDelete