Gregory H. Williams facts for kids

Gregory Howard Williams (born November 12, 1943 – died August 12, 2025) was an important American educator, lawyer, and author. He led two major universities. He was the 27th President of the University of Cincinnati from 2009 to 2012. Before that, he was the 11th President of the City College of New York from 2001 to 2009. Williams was known for his dedication to education and for his powerful autobiography.

Early Life and Education

Gregory Howard Williams was born on November 12, 1943, in Muncie, Indiana. He spent his early years in Gum Springs, Virginia. When he was 10, he moved to Muncie, Indiana, with his brother. There, he learned about his father's African American background. This discovery helped shape his life and his strong belief in education.

He studied at Ball State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966. To pay for college, he worked as a deputy sheriff. Later, he taught history and government in Falls Church, Virginia. He continued his studies, earning several advanced degrees. These included a master's degree from the University of Maryland and a law degree (J.D.) from George Washington University. He also worked for a U.S. Senator in Washington, D.C.. He later earned more degrees, including a doctorate in political science.

A Career in Law and Education

Gregory Williams began teaching law in 1977 at the University of Iowa. He taught important subjects like criminal law. He also served as an associate dean at the Law School. In this role, he helped with student admissions and support. He also worked as an associate vice president for academic affairs.

Williams also shared his knowledge internationally. He was a visiting professor at Durham University in England. He was also a visiting scholar at Cambridge University.

From 1993 to 2001, Williams became the dean of the Michael E. Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. As dean, he helped the law school grow a lot. He increased the number of teachers and raised a lot of money for the school.

Leading Major Universities

In 2001, Gregory Williams became the 11th president of the City College of New York. This is a very important part of the City University of New York system. During his time there, student enrollment grew by 60 percent. The school's academic quality also got much better. He helped raise over $230 million for the college. He also doubled the funding for research projects. Many students at City College came from diverse backgrounds. They spoke many different languages.

In 2009, Williams became the president of the University of Cincinnati. He started a big plan called UC2019. This plan aimed to improve the university by its 200th birthday. Under his leadership, the number of students reached an all-time high. The university also created a new health system. He left this role in 2012.

Awards and Honors

Gregory Williams received many awards for his work in education and leadership. In 1998, President Bill Clinton asked him to help promote diversity. He was named Dean of the Year by a national law association. The National Bar Association gave him an award for protecting human and civil rights.

Other honors included:

• The A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Award (1999)
• A tribute from New York Governor George Pataki (2004)
• The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (2006)
• An honorary Mayor-President title in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2006)
• The Key to the City of Muncie, Indiana (2006)
• The Langston Hughes Award for contributions to arts and letters (2009)
• The George Washington University Law School Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award (2015)

A special teaching position, the Gregory H. Williams Chair, was created in his honor. It is at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. He also received several honorary doctorate degrees from different universities.

Family Life and Passing

Gregory Williams married Sara Catherine Whitney on August 29, 1969. They had four children: Natalia Dora, Zachary Benjamin, Anthony Bîadîmir, and Carlos Gregory. Gregory Williams passed away on August 12, 2025, at the age of 81.

His Famous Book: Life on the Color Line

Gregory Williams wrote a very important autobiography called Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black. This book won the 1995 Los Angeles Times Book of the Year award. It also received the Outstanding Book on Human Rights.

The book tells the story of his childhood. He grew up thinking he was white. But at age 10, he moved to Indiana and learned his father was African-American. The book explores his journey of understanding his identity. The phrase 'color line' refers to the historical separation of people based on race. Important figures like Frederick Douglass and W. E. B. Du Bois also used this term.

Williams' book became very popular. He was featured on many TV shows, like The Oprah Winfrey Show. He also gave many public talks about his experiences.

Other Books

Besides his autobiography, Gregory Williams also wrote other books. These included:

• The Iowa guide to search and seizure (1986)
• The law and politics of police discretion (1984)

Video Appearances

Gregory Williams also appeared in a video in 2006. It was titled The man who is black and white—not half white. This video further explored his unique life story.