Robert "Tex" H. Williams

Robert Harold “Tex” Williams was born July 24th, 1928 to Charles and Arant Williams in Waco, Texas. He spent his boyhood years in a small community, Lacey Lakeview, near Waco during the depression years. He helped his parents grow food in the family garden as well as working odd jobs with his father and brother to help make ends meet. Tex decided that he wanted to go to Waco High School so he could play football and caught the Interurban electric train into Waco each school day. The team he played with tied Highland Park for the 2A state championship in 1945.

In 1947 Tex went to Texas A&M on scholarship to study Animal Husbandry. He wanted to be a rancher and work with horses and cattle. Tex loved cowboy things and played the guitar, singing country and western.

Tex grew up in a strong Christian family. In 1948 he decided to give his life to preaching the Gospel and transferred to Abilene Christian College to study for the ministry. During that time, he was active in student council, served as student body president, and preached for smaller churches in the area on Sundays.

After graduating from ACC in 1952 Tex worked at Boles Home near Quinlan, Texas where he served as a spiritual counselor and activities director. One of his jobs at Boles was driving and directing the Bel Canto Chorus. During this time, he met and married Mary Jane Williamson (1955) who was living and growing up at Boles. They soon moved to Austin where Tex preached for the Northside Church of Christ (now Hyde Park).

In 1957 Tex, Mary Jane, and son “Rocky” took a freighter from New Orleans, along with the C.W. “Abe” Lincoln family, to South Africa to serve as missionaries. Tex worked with other missionaries in South Africa to establish and strengthen congregations in Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Durbin, and Benoni. He was instrumental in helping establish Bible schools for preacher training and often traveled great distances to encourage other missionary families in southern Africa.

Returning from South Africa in 1970, Tex joined the faculty at Sunset School of Preaching in Lubbock, Texas. He taught Bible courses and helped train preachers and missionaries at Sunset from 1970 until 1985.

In 1985 Tex moved to Austin to work with World Bible School, then out of the Westover Hills Church of Christ, where he also served as an elder. A few years later, he moved World Bible School to Cedar Park into its own building and offices. Tex traveled throughout the country and the world on behalf of WBS and world missions. In 1998 Abilene Christian University granted Tex an honorary doctorate for lifetime achievement in Missions. World evangelism was his life’s calling.

Tex retired from WBS in 2006 and continued serving as an associate minister with the Westside Church of Christ in Roundrock, Texas into his 80’s when he became homebound due to health issues.

Tex is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, son Charles “Rocky,” daughter Melody, son Stephen “Buck,” son Shawn, and daughter Mary Kay. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.