John "Jack" Clifford Williams

John Clifford Williams, age 89, a resident of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Arlington. A native of Florida, Jack was married to the late Darlene Shields for 34 wonderful years. He was the father of Kurt Williams (deceased) from his first marriage. Jack was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Jane Williams, and his brothers, Gerald and Charlie.

He is survived by his niece, Julia Williams, and two sisters-in-law, Donna Shields and Diane Shields.

Jack graduated from Jacksonville University in Florida. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, after which he began a distinguished career as a newspaper reporter and copy editor spanning more than two decades.

Jack later joined USA TODAY, where he helped develop the publication’s famous and colorful Weather Page. In 1982 Jack was the founding Editor of the Weather page.The Weather Page drew widespread attention, and he was subsequently invited to write text for the USA Today Weather Book, which was critically acclaimed. During his nearly 25 years as Weather Editor, Jack reported on science in a way that was accessible to the average reader and conveyed a genuine excitement about the subject. Among his many experiences, he reported on his travels to Antarctica and Greenland, sharing insights into their remarkable weather and climate.

A pioneering weather journalist and author, Jack was a respected figure in both meteorology and journalism. He authored several additional weather-related books, including The American Meteorological Society Weather Book.

Jack was a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and a Fellow of The Explorers Club.

He and Darlene traveled extensively and were active members of the National Press Club.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia.

Jack will be remembered with love by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Meteorological Society or the National Press Foundation.

To learn more about Jack’s remarkable career, please visit:

https://www.press.org/newsroom/npc-member-jack-williams-founding-editor-usa-today-weather-page-dies-89