Robert F. Williams was executive secretary of the Virginia Education Association and editor of the Virginia Journal of Education.
A native of Sugar Grove, Virginia, he graduated from Roanoke College in 1929 and received his master's degree from Columbia University in 1932. His entire career was devoted to education in Virginia. He was named principle of Sugar Grove High School in 1932, superintendent of Smyth County schools in 1937, state director of elementary education in 1944, and executive secretary of the Virginia Education Association in 1946. He assumed editorship of the Virginia Journal of Education at that time. He was awarded the honorary LL.D. by Lynchburg College in 1953.
Dr. Williams was a forthright and vigorous spokesman for secondary education. He was a delegate to the 1955 White House Conference on Education. He served the National Education Association as delegate to international conferences in Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. He was a member of the Governor's Conference on Education in 1966. In June 1970, he joined a study team to observe new early childhood education ideas being developed in England.
Robert F. Williams received the Roanoke College Medal in 1970.