Langdon "Tom" Thomas Williams Jr.

Langdon Thomas “Tom” Williams, Jr., lovingly known as “LT” to his grandchildren, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, at the age of 94, surrounded by the family he cherished so deeply. He was born on September 21, 1931, to Langdon T. Williams and Mildred B. Williams, beginning a life that would be marked by curiosity, determination, humor and enduring devotion to those he loved.

A consummate gentleman throughout his life, Tom leaves behind a family who will forever treasure his wisdom, kindness, and countless stories he loved to share. He is survived by his devoted wife of 24 years, Susie (Herbst); his three children, Evan Williams (Nancy), Amy Rowe (Doug), and Holly Driggs (Forest); nine grandchildren, Torrey (Gus), Ellie, Davis, Meredith (Eric), David, Anna (Matt), Parker, Caroline, and Lily; and one great-granddaughter, Emmy, in addition to many stepchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary W. Robertson (“Patsy”).

From an early age, Tom’s competitive spirit and love of sports were evident. A graduate of Columbus Academy’s Class of 1949, he was honored to serve as School President. Tom was also a gifted athlete, excelling in basketball, baseball and tennis, often juggling multiple games in a single day. Legend has it that he once pitched both games of a doubleheader, one game left-handed—his natural hand—and the other game right-handed, finishing the day by handily winning a tennis match, a story he would recount with a twinkle in his eye and a modest disclaimer: it was only a few innings right-handed. He continued his education at Williams College, Class of 1953, where he was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity and played both varsity tennis and squash. He later graduated from Thomas Jefferson University Medical School, specializing in radiology.

Having joined the United States Navy years earlier, Tom was commissioned for active duty in 1957 and proudly served as a flight surgeon stationed in San Diego, Pensacola and Virginia Beach. He was honorably discharged in October 1962.

Following his service, Tom returned to Columbus with his young family to find what would become a defining turning point in his life. While awaiting a residency in ophthalmology, he went to work at the company his parents founded, the Franklin Glue Company, initially providing medical screening for employment. At that time, his father was prepared to shut down a small part of the business known as the Small Pack division. Tom asked for, and was granted, a shot at salvaging that little division. What started as a Hail Mary role soon revealed a lifelong passion for business that he could never shake. That little business went on to become the Construction Adhesives and Sealants division, the largest part of Franklin International. Along the way, he also led Franklin’s expansion to reach over 60 countries worldwide with 4 production sites, including one in China. Tom guided the Company’s expansion by building a culture rooted in trust, respect, innovation and thoughtful risk-taking.

His entrepreneurial spirit and eye for style led him into the retail apparel world as well. What began as a tennis clothing shop in Columbus eventually grew into a venture owning and operating 30 Polo Ralph Lauren stores across the country from the 1980s through the mid-1990s.

Known for his sharp mind—especially when it came to numbers—and his quick smile, Tom was a winsome and generous man who endeared himself to everyone who knew him. He often joked that his mathematical prowess came from long hours as a boy listening to baseball on the radio and calculating and memorizing statistics for every major league player while homebound with asthma. He always had sage advice to offer and loved quoting Winston Churchill, whom he admired as “the greatest man of the 20th century.” He was a voracious reader of many subjects, whether history, business leadership, spirituality or astrophysics, and he loved to debate these topics in a profound and constructive manner.

Tom was an avid tennis player and took great joy in watching his children play competitively. He spent many hours traveling the junior tennis tournament circuit with them while they were growing up. He also loved golf, and The Golf Club held a special place in his heart, being one of its original members. It was there that he spent many happy hours with his father, his dearest and oldest friends, his son, and his grandsons, playing rounds of golf and enjoying the club’s famous peanut butter and bacon sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies.

He was also a dedicated sports fan, especially of The Ohio State Buckeyes’ football and basketball teams, as well as faithfully suffering through decades of the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns. His wife, Susie, learned to embrace these passions as well. Saturdays in the fall were considered sacred—a tradition his family learned to respect and emulate.

He would be the first to say he was not keen on travelling and was happiest at home in Columbus in front of a fire with his dogs at his side. However, he did enjoy his time playing golf and tennis in Florida for many decades. Despite saying he was not a man of routine, Tom and Susie would customarily have lunch and then play 18 holes of golf, only to repeat it day after day. He was a member of Rocky Fork Hunt and Country Club, the Columbus Country Club, The Columbus Club, and The Golf Club in Columbus and the Country Club of Florida, Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis Club, and the Seagate Beach Club in Florida. He joined and resigned from many other clubs in different parts of the country, some for a short time and others for a little longer time—his occasional impulsiveness was a trait he acknowledged with good humor.

Despite—or perhaps because of—his medical training, Tom did things his own way and happily eschewed common medical advice. He drank Diet Coke like water, enjoyed red meat and salt as often as possible, and believed ridiculous amounts of butter improved nearly everything. McDonald’s for lunch was a favorite staple of his dietary regime. Yet long before workplace wellness programs were common, Tom demonstrated genuine care and health advocacy for others by creating a state-of-the-art fitness center as a free perk for Franklin employees in 1984, a benefit that continues today.

Above all else, Tom’s greatest joy and source of pride was his family. His quiet strength, steady kindness, and unwavering support shaped the lives of those around him. He lived a long and remarkably full life, and he would have been the first to say that he had a great life. While his wisdom, dry wit, and warm presence will be profoundly missed, his family takes great comfort in the legacy of love he leaves behind and in the countless memories that will continue to endure.

Those who knew Tom know that he hated funerals and memorial services. As such, his persistent plea was that a public service not be held. If you wish to make a donation, he would want it to be made in honor of his father through the Langdon T. Williams scholarship fund at The Ohio State University.