Chris D. Williams

Christopher (Chris) Duyckinck Williams was born March 3rd, 1945 in New York and died August 30th, 2024 in Houston at age 79. The second of four children to Ed and Phoebe Williams, the family moved all over the world, with stops in Colombia, Argentina, Italy and Mexico. He traveled from Argentina to Connecticut for boarding school at Kent and then attended Cornell University. He graduated from the College of Industrial and Labor Relations, but his greatest achievement was in varsity crew. He rowed all four years, culminating in an undefeated senior season as the stroke for the lightweight eight in 1967. That year Cornell won all their collegiate races and claimed the prestigious Thames Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. His passion for endurance athletics persisted all his life.

Chris Williams (stroke seat) leading his crew to victory in the Thames Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta, July 1, 1967

Cornell after crossing the finish line as winners of Thames Challenge Cup at Henley - July 1, 1967 (Photo courtesy of Peter Mallory)

In 1968, due to the Vietnam War, Chris enlisted and trained at Fort Hood, Texas, ultimately serving in Germany. Out of the Army in 1970, he began his career in Human Resources, taking a job with Dresser Industries in Dallas and from there to Connecticut and then Brussels, Belgium. These international forays led Chris to becoming fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French and German.
Another corporate transfer brought him to Houston in 1980 and it became home for the rest of his life. In 1985 he set out on his own professionally and never looked back. 1988 was a pivotal year for Chris as he was baptized in the church and married Carolyn; they became wonderful partners in all the adventures to come.

Chris was a specialist in turnaround management running restaurants, marinas, golf courses, and even oilfield services companies. He loved the daily challenges and to him it never felt like work. After successful stints with Glass Consulting and Gulfstar Group, he returned to independent consulting in 2012, working extensively with Main Street Capital.
In 2005, Chris found a new passion: road cycling. He started with a hybrid bike, but he immediately deemed it to be “too slow” and switched to a sleek road frame. Multiple MS 150 events followed. Weekends were for group rides of 60-80 miles which fed his athletic and competitive spirit. Even as he aged, every March on his birthday he would organize an “age” ride where he would go out and bike his age in miles. He even once ran the Houston Marathon…at age 67!

Chris taking a trip with teammate, Raymond Randolph, in Ray's plane. (circa 1990's)

Chris loved his spreadsheets and would apply them to all his projects- work, house remodels, cycling events, and even family vacations. Never consumed by his work, his relentlessly upbeat outlook on life was expressed in his favorite phrase: “It’ll be great, you’ll see!”

Chris was deeply involved in Second Baptist Church, the Cornell Rowing Association, the Whitehall Club and his ILC cycling group. Preceded in death by his parents and brother Tony, he is survived by his amazing wife of 36 years, Carolyn Williams; his sister Mary and brother Mike; two children from his first marriage: son, Michael-Anthony (Carrie) Williams and grandsons Zach and Sam; daughter Georgia (Jon) Polley and grandsons Hawkins and Foard; and Carolyn’s son Blake (Kelly) McWherter and granddaughter Kate, grandson John Clayton.