Thomas R. Williams, esq., better known as “Tommy Dick” to his childhood friends, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2022, of just plain old age. He was 94.
Tom was born on Friday January 13, 1928, in the garlic capital of the world, Gilroy, California, and grew up in the equally fragrant Vacaville, California. As a young boy, Tom developed a love for music and became an accomplished trombone player. He was guided in his love for music by his high school music teacher Carlton Hanson, who, as fate would have it, soon became his brother in law. Over the remainder of their lives, the two developed a close bond, with Carlton playing a big brother roll in help shaping Tom’s life.
Tom graduated from San Francisco State University with degrees in Mathematics and Music and was a music teacher for a short time before being drafted into the Korean War. Tom served in the Korean War as a member of a USO group entertaining the troops at various locations throughout Korea.
Tom is perhaps the only known person who was thankful to have been drafted. He always maintained that his service in the Korean war changed the course of his life for the better. After the war, Tom relocated to western Texas where he worked in the oil and gas industry. It was here that Tom worked land acquisition issues that led him to find his true calling to be a lawyer.
After three years of going to night school at Oklahoma City University College of Law, while also traveling between Texas and Oklahoma as a landman, Tom moved his young family to Guthrie, Oklahoma, on November 1, 1961, and immediately became known as “the stranger.”
In spite of never being “from there” Tom loved Guthrie-not because of the location, but because of the people. He started his one man law practice in Guthrie and was faced with many daunting challenges-mostly financial- and considered leaving Guthrie to return to California. But thanks to the strong network of nosy neighbors and friends, he was not allowed to leave. Tom eventually built a thriving law practice and became a prominent member of the community; however he was always “the stranger”. He always fondly told stories to those who’d listen about his friends in Guthrie who were always quietly there supporting him behind the scenes. Those friends know who they are.
Tom practiced law in Guthrie for over thirty years and became well known throughout Oklahoma for his work advising the school board, banks and individuals on a wide variety of legal issues.
In addition to music, Tom loved all aspects of the outdoors. He especially loved the mountains. He loved to camp, fish, travel and most of all play golf at the country club. It was his daily coffee and golfing buddies who gave him the moniker, “the stranger” because although he had lived in Guthrie for more than 50 years, he was never voted as one of them. They never let him forget it and he loved it.
Tom is survived by his three children, Sara Hurst, Tom Williams and Peter Williams, as well as 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of almost forty years, Dr Teresa Stacy. After her death in 2010, he developed a wonderful companionship with Marilyn Carroll who also predeceased him.
There will be a wake in the near future, celebrating Tom’s life as the stranger.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at http://www. hayesfh.com.