In Memoriam Max Lea Williams (February 22, 1922–September 18, 2013)

A seminal mind has departed: His students and the whole engineering community shall miss a concerned, rational engineer and scientist, whose actions were broadly based in the desire to improve the world in which we live. Though M. L. Williams was associated with academic institutions throughout his career, he demonstrated a firm belief in practical, hands-on engineering. He was a Registered Engineer and had a major influence in guiding national programs of defense research, saving millions of dollars through judiciously supporting, criticizing or phasing studies and programs. His practical insights transitioned into engineering management through guidance of (over 20) start-up engineering ventures, which depended critically on mature engineering judgment and the teaching by his economics mentor Economics Professor Horace Gilbert while a graduate student at Caltech.