Final Salute

James Keith “Whip” Williams 1934 – 2021
Springfield, IL—James Keith “Whip” Williams, 87, died at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at Lewis Memorial Christian Village. A Springfield resident since 1977, he retired after 26 years of state service in 1999 and eight years as Chairman of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
Jim was born January 30, 1934, in Lafayette, IN, the son of Dr. James E. Williams and Lucinda Helen Keith Williams of Lafayette. He is survived by a daughter, Marne Rebecca Williams of Oklahoma City, OK; granddaughter, Mallory Marne Jones; a great-grandson; and great-granddaughter, all of Oklahoma City, OK.
From 1953 to 1957, he served in the United States Navy stationed on Guam then at the Seabee facility at Port Hueneme, CA, completing his service as Petty Officer First Class.
Jim was a 1960 graduate at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, where he majored in journalism and was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and Student Journalism Society. At Purdue, he also was a tuba player and vocalist with the Salty Dogs, a student classic jazz band started in the late 1940s, popular throughout the Midwest, and long associated with Purdue. His love of jazz led to continuing performances with jazz groups in and around Chicago in the 1960s and less frequently during the ensuing years.
After graduation from Purdue, he became a reporter for the Danville (IL) Commercial-News. From 1963 until 1973, Jim was a reporter for the Rockford (IL) Register-Republic and Morning Star, including the newspapers’ municipal government reporter and political editor, then as a daily general-interest columnist.
He received an Illinois Press Association first-place award in 1965 for a four-part series exposing widespread irregularities in Rockford municipal purchasing, resulting in the passage of a centralized purchasing ordinance for the city. James also won an Illinois Associated Press second-place award in 1969 as co-author of a five-part series exploring the impact of Alabama Governor, George Wallace’s candidacy in the presidential race and was cited by the American Political Science Association in 1970 for excellence in public affairs reporting for a series of political columns tracking the issues during Illinois’ 1970 Constitutional Convention. He attended a two-week seminar for political and government reporters in 1966 at Columbia University, New York, NY.
From 1973 to 1977, he served as press secretary to Illinois Comptroller, George W. Lindberg and from 1977 to 1981 as assistant press secretary to Illinois Governor, James R. Thompson, followed by ten years as the governor’s staff assistant for public safety. Jim was Chairman of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board during the eight years of Governor Jim Edgar’s administration.
In 2010, he wrote and self-published a bio-discographical book, Jimmie Noone-Jazz Clarinet Pioneer, which included an extensive listing of Noone’s recorded work in the 1920s and 1930s assembled by John Wilby of Toronto, Canada. It included photographs from the collections of nationally known photographers Frank Driggs and Duncan Schiedt and historic documents related to Noone. Jim also self-published three detective novellas.
Jim was a passionate collector of original issue 78 rpm jazz and blues recordings, focusing primarily on discs issued between 1923 and 1933. He was fond of playing the tenor banjo, tuba, and piano (self-taught on each) in later years, and occasionally would haul out the banjo or play the piano at parties and sing songs, particularly relishing those which were bawdy, politically incorrect, or laced with double entendre lyrics. Jim found great enjoyment in cooking for friends, particularly in preparing barbequed hickory-smoked ribs and dishes with a Cajun or Creole flair.
Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.
No visitation or funeral ceremonies will be held. Following cremation, private family burial will be held in Grandview Cemetery, West Lafayette, IN.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118.
The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 South 6th Street, Springfield, IL.
Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.