UNM’s Cortez William Dies at 68

Cortez Williams, retired University of New Mexico assistant professor of African-American Studies, now Africana Studies, died Saturday, July 12. He was 68 years old. A memorial service is set for Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at the UNM Alumni Chapel followed by a reception at 1 p.m. in UNM Student Union Building Lobo rooms A & B.

Photo: Cortez Williams

Williams joined the UNM faculty as a lecturer in the history department in 1974. The following year he started teaching in African-American Studies and by 1977, he was also teaching in the School of Public Administration. He advanced as a faculty member from lecturer to instructor to adjunct associate professor. In 1986, he became a fulltime faculty member with the title of assistant professor, a title he retained until his retirement in December 2001.

Williams, a veteran of the Vietnam War, earned an undergraduate degree in history from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971, master’s in history from the University of Connecticut in 1972, and a doctoral degree in American Studies and business/public administration from UNM in 1975.

In 1968-69, Williams taught English at the American Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, and in 1972-73, taught history at New Mexico Highlands University. He served as a special assistant to Governor Jerry Apodaca in 1977, and served on the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners from 1979-85.

“What he wanted most of all was an educational revolution to institute writing as a mainstay in all programs in the university. His true passion was teaching. I would like to thank him for all he’s done for me, for all students and the university at large,” said Stephon Scott, third year UNM law student and doctoral candidate in the College of Education’s Language Literacy and Sociocultural Studies program.

Charles Becknell Jr., program specialist in Africana Studies, said that his father Charles Becknell Sr. was the first director of African-American Studies. “He was a colleague of my father’s in the 1970s and a teacher of mine when I transferred to UNM in 1989. Dr. Williams was committed to African-American Studies and it showed through his preparation. He expected the same from his students. He was a serious professor but a masterful storyteller who weaved stories through theory and practice.”

For those interested in participating in Williams’ service, contact Scott at 280-2495 or 222-9476 or by email at stephon@unm.edu. Scott will be teaching Williams’ classes, Blacks in the West and Blacks in the Latin America, in Africana Studies this year.

Williams’ widow, Joyce Williams, requests that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to a UNM scholarship fund in Williams’ honor. Checks can be made out to the University of New Mexico, indicating that the funds are for Africana Studies in Williams’ honor. Please mail to the UNM Foundation, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 07 4260, Albuquerque, NM 87131.

Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; email: cgonzal@unm.edu