Dewey Williams

The Williston Herald

March 19th, 2000

    Dewey Williams was born in Durham, North Carolina on February 5, 1916 to Stanton James and Callie (Mathews) Williams.

    He was raised and educated in Durham where he would also discover his love for baseball.
   
    He played American Legion ball during school, and upon graduating from high school began his professional baseball career with the Durham Bulls, going on to become a catcher with the Atlanta Cracrackers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Tulsa Oilers and Toleda Sox. The pinnacle of his career was with the Pennent Winning Chicago Cubs, where he played in the 1945 World Series against Detroit. Following that, he played with the Cincinnati Reds, as well as winter ball in Caracas Venezuela. Injury took him from major league play, and he finished his baseball days in the ManDak League, (Manitoba-Dakota) where he was instrumental in the formation of the Williston Oilers, and also played for the Minot Mallards.
   
    On September 21, 1957 he was joined in marriage with Jackie Nichols of Billings Montana and they remained in Williston where they raised their four children.
   
    Upon retiring from baseball, Dewey was employed at National Tank Company, the Williston Parks and Recreation Board and Montana Dakota Utilities, retiring in 1982.
    The center of his life was his children and grandchildren, spending time with them and telling them baseball stories. He was charter member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni
Association.
   
    Dewey is survived by his wife, Jackie, of Williston; his children Catherine D. Wagenman and her husband, John, of Orem UT, Penny Borg of Bismarck, Steve and wife, Clare, of Minneapolis, MN,
and Al and wife, Debbie of Williston; as well as thirteen grandchildren. The family desires that memorials be directed to the Shriners Childrens Hospitals.