Harold Williams ’46

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Harold Williams has played many important roles in moving UCLA to its present position of prominence. He is a very special member of the UCLA family and has brought distinction to the University through his professional achievements, as dean of the Graduate School of Management and his many volunteer service contributions. Williams has been honored with a UCLA Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. This year we honor the total man – his service, achievements and leadership from which UCLA has benefited greatly – as Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year.

Williams is the president and chief executive officer of the J. Paul Getty Trust, a charitable trust devoted to the arts and humanities, with an endowment in excess of $1.4 billion. Among its activities, the trust operates the Getty Museum, an internationally renowned collection of fine arts. Prior to assuming this position in 1981, Williams served approximately four years as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., having been nominated to that position by President Jimmy Carter. From 1970, until his appointment to the commission, Williams served as dean and professor of management at the Graduate School of Management at UCLA. During his administration, the School received national ranking, including recognition as a leading graduate business school in a public university.

Williams joined Hunt Foods and Industries, Inc. in 1955 as associate tax counsel. He subsequently became tax counsel, vice president of finance and executive vice president. He went on to become president of Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc. and with the consolidation formation of Norton Simon, Inc., he was named chair of the new company’s finance committees. In 1969, he assumed the additional post of chairman of the board of Norton Simon, Inc.

Williams’ association with UCLA began in his undergraduate days. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1946 at the age of 18, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Three years later, he was awarded his J.D. from Harvard University Law School. Williams went on to serve and support UCLA as a founding trustee of the Foundation Board of Trustees, as a member of the Chancellor’s Associates, the Graduate School of Management Board of Visitors, a Life Member of the Alumni Association, a Jacoby Associate and West Center New Founder. He also recently began a term as a UC Regent.

Williams exemplifies the highest goals of UCLA education. Today, we honor Williams for the distinction reflect on UCLA by his superb abilities and dedication to serve which have taken him to the highest levels of leadership in the fields of industry, education, government and the arts.