George Short Williams (1877-1961)

George S. Williams was born in Ocean View, Delaware on October 21, 1877 to W.S.H. and Catherine Williams. He was educated at local schools and at the Wilmington Conference Academy, now Wesley College. He entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1897 and enrolled in the classical course. He was an active student, with the nickname "Ducky," and he participated in varsity track and varsity football on the outstanding teams of 1898 and 1899. He was also elected to the Belles Lettres Society before he graduated with the class of 1900.

Williams began a teaching career in Toddville, Maryland after graduation and, in 1902, moved to Michigan, where he taught at Ironwood High School. He left education to become the superintendent of a lumbar plant in Stearns, Kansas in 1903 and then moved on in the same business to Delaware in 1905 until his business standing found him elected mayor of Millsboro, Delaware between 1921 and 1927. Williams then took on a series of Delaware state positions, including president of the state board of education 1927-1934, treasurer of Delaware 1929-1933, and deputy motor vehicle commissioner 1935-1937. He was active in Republican politics and was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1939. He was not re-elected in November 1941 and returned to Delaware as the state motor vehicle commissioner 1941-1946. He last significant political role was as the administrative assistant to Delaware Senator John J. Williams between 1947 until 1959.

George Short Williams died at his home in Millsboro on November 22, 1961 at seventy-four years of age. He is buried in the Union Cemetery, Georgetown, Delaware.