Williams, Prescott H. 1924–

(Prescott Harrison Williams, Jr.)

PERSONAL:

Born June 20, 1924, in Detroit, MI; son of Prescott Harrison (a sales representative) and M. Louise (a homemaker and hat maker) Williams; married Jane Tweed McMillan (a director of a child development center and antiques dealer), September 9, 1950; children: Prescott Harrison III, Andrew James, Margaret Louise Williams Tufts, Todd Radford (deceased). Ethnicity: "Irish, English, German, and Cree." Education: Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, B.A., 1947; Princeton Theological Seminary, B.D., 1950. Politics: "Independent, active voter." Religion: Christian.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Austin, TX.

CAREER:

Presbyterian minister and teacher until retirement in 1990. Teacher of classes for senior citizens.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, with Theodore Hiebert) Realia Dei: Essays in Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation in Honor of Edward F. Campbell, Jr. at His Retirement, Duke University Press (Durham, NC), 1999.

SIDELIGHTS:

Prescott H. Williams told CA: "My primary motivation for writing was my students' needs for guidance and orientation to important resources in the study of the Hebrew Old Testament, the Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls), ancient Middle Eastern history, languages, and archaeology—and related subjects. I produced a key to the Latin textual notes in the Hebrew Old Testament, which was published in Stuttgart and distributed with the Hebrew book. The serious questions of students during courses of study led to unpublished outlines, essays, and guides, which I distributed free. My inspiration was my own enjoyment of learning, my students' curiosity, and their greater understanding of Bible-related issues."