Newton Co., IN Biography ROBERT ELMER WILLIAMSON, or Bob, as he was widely known was born to Claude and Bertha (Padgett) Williamson in the old Kalfise home at 203 W. Beaver Street in Morocco, Indiana on May 13, 1915. They moved to their new home at 307 S. Clay Street just before Bob's younger brother, Joseph Michael, was born on Christmas Day, 1918. Bob attended Morocco Elementary school just behind their home and graduated from Beaver Township High School (Morocco) in May 1933. While in high school he was active in basketball, football, and track and field. He was awarded the state prize for the best essay on Prohibition while in high school. He was also president of his class all through high school and lead actor in the junior play. He graduated from Purdue University in May 1937 with a B. S. degree in Pharmacy. He was a member of the track and cross country teams, lettering in both, and captaining the track team his senior year, winning the Big State high jump title his senior year. After working in the family pharmacy in Morocco for a year, he was sent to Valparaiso U. College of Pharmacy to instruct there for one year. He then returned to Purdue where he received his M.S. degree in the spring of 1941. He was married to Alice Catherine Bowman on August 18, 1940, in the Keith and Laura Spencer home in Remington, Indiana. Better known to all as Cay, she was the daughter of Harold and Ada (Peck) Bowman. Her untimely death occurred on July 28, 1980, at Peoria, Illinois. Two children were born to him and Cay. Their first child, David Michael, was born January 3, 1942 while Bob was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison. He has been twice married, first to Shirley Bower. They had five children. Michael's second marriage was to Carol Telford. Bob and Cay's second child, a daughter, Patricia Kay, was born November 5, 1948 at the Home Hospital, Lafayette. She is married to Oscar Reyes and they have two children. After finishing his masters thesis on "Fungal Infections of the Feet" he was called to active duty in the Medical Administrative Corps in April 1941, his first duty being Pharmacy Officer at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Bob was transferred to Camp Edwards, Massachusetts in April 1942, and assigned as Supply Officer and Detachment Commander of the 14th Station Hospital, which was subsequently shipped out to Iceland Base Command in August 1942. The 14th was located at Seydisfjordur on the East Coast of Iceland. In the fall of 1943 Bob became ill and was transferred to the 429 General Hospital in Reyjavik, Iceland, and subsequently flown to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. After a month he was transferred to a hospital unit at Camp Barkley near Macomb, Illinois, which was being trained to go to the South Pacific. Being physically disqualified for overseas duty, he was sent to Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado, where he was retired from the service for disability in the line of duty. He returned to Morocco in the fall of 1944 where he took over the family pharmacy which he operated until his retirement in May 1980. Bob and Cay spent time in Arizona in the winters of the 70/s, driving to Panama in winter of 1968 to visit brother, Jack, who was commanding Fort Clayton in the Canal Zone. They visited all 50 states during these years and traveled in Europe and the Holy Land in 1966. Bob was awarded the Lafayette Journal & Courier's "George Award" for community involvement in 1962. He was also active in Boy Scouts and a member of the Newton County Board of Health for several years. He served eight years on the North Newton School Board, during which time the new High School was constructed. He was also president of the Holding Corporation that funded the Lincoln Elementary School building. He was an active member of the Newton County Historical Society, serving as Secretary for a number of years. He adopted the Newton County GenWeb site on the Internet, and oversaw its development. He personally typed the early census records onto the site, so that they would be available for researchers. A lifelong member of Hazelden County Club, he liked to play golf whenever possible. He and brother Bill took golf vacations for several years, rotating between Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach and Callaway Gardens. Bob also served the first election district of Indiana on the General Board of the American Baptist Churches, USA for 8 years during the 80's, also serving on the Board of Managers of the Indiana Baptist Convention. Both Bob and Cay served on the committee which worked to unite the Baptist and Christian (Disciples of Christ) Churches in Morocco, culminating in the formation of the United Church of Morocco. Bob chaired the committee for funding the construction of the new church building. Bob also served on the committee for the celebration of the Centennial of Morocco in 1951. He was finance chairman for building the swimming pool in Morocco as well. Bob served several terms as president of the United Church Board as well as holding the office of Bishop. He was the first president of the Morocco Lions Club, a 50 year member of Morocco Masonic Lodge, and an American Legion Life Member. In Memorium. Transcribed by Gerald Born from an article authored by Bob for the Bowman Family History and Genealogy, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted By Gerald Born Email - Wizzofozl0@aol.com