Hugh Crooks Williams

4, 1930, in Atlanta, GA, to the late Hugh Crooks Williams Sr. and Mary Wright Williams.

Hugh is survived by his daughter Carol Surles and son in law Bobby; his grandchildren Cameran

and her husband Richard and Taylor and his wife Laura; his great grandson and namesake

Harrison Hugh; many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Hugh was

preceded in death by his wife and partner of almost 70 years Gladys Baird Williams, his parents,

his daughter Gayle Chappell, his granddaughter Chelle, and countless other loved ones.

Everyone who knew Hugh knew him as a man with a curious spirit and a steadfast character. His

life was defined by his devotion to faith and family. He maintained lifelong friendships and was

always known to seek out fun.

Hugh grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, among an extended family and community of friends. He

was close with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, beloved cousins and many friends who remained

in his life for decades. From an early age, he was ambitious with a good work ethic. He sold Liberty

magazines at the local post office and had several paper routes throughout grade school. He

excelled at Meridian High with good grades, varsity sports, several clubs and many friends.

He left his mother – to whom he remained very close throughout her whole life – for University

at Mississippi State, an experience and institution that would continue to mean much to him.

Over the years, he donated money to the school and was even selected by faculty to receive a

Distinguished Engineering Fellow Award from the College of Engineering in recognition of his

outstanding career accomplishments and contributions. Also at State, he started his military

career in the ROTC, which took him to Fort Mead and Washington, D.C. after graduation. This

was during the Korean War, and he quickly rose through the ranks to Battery Commander and

1st Lieutenant, overseeing 135 men. Also during this time, he met his wife Gladys who was

working for his uncle and living in D.C. They married November 7, 1953, at the Washington

Cathedral Bethlehem Chapel.

Soon after, Hugh completed his military service and began what would become a defining facet

of his life: his challenging, fulfilling and successful career as an engineer. His early work with Pan

Am, Standard Oil of Indiana, the American oil company division and Texas Eastern took him back

to Meridian (where daughter Gayle was born in 1956), then to Vicksburg, Shreveport (where

daughter Carol was born in 1958), Houston, Atlanta then finally back to Houston where he began

working for The Coastal States Gas Producing Co. (later Coastal) as General Manager of their

pipeline system in south Texas. He would spend the next 30 years of his career at Coastal,

eventually becoming Senior Vice President of coastal states crude gathering, responsible for

pipeline, terminals, underground storage & fractionation and Coastal’s transportation operations

as well as engineering relating to those assets. In later years, he was also Senior Vice President

of Coastal Refining & Marketing responsible for LPGs. At points during his tenure at Coastal, Hugh

also was President of the Houston Pipeliner’s Club, President of the Mississippi State University

Houston Alumni Club, and served on the advisory boards of Mississippi State’s External Research

and Civil Engineering Departments. A lifelong athlete, he was a member of the downtown YMCA

and Houston City club. He was an avid golfer, tennis player, softball player and bowler, his

longtime colleagues commenting that the trunk of his car looked like a sports equipment store!

Hugh was a committed member of Second Baptist Church in Houston, serving as a deacon from

1969 until his death. Always seeking to better himself, Hugh took business and management

courses at the Houston Community College, continuing to take classes even into retirement. Also

in retirement, he volunteered with Executive Service Corps of Houston (ESCH), taught himself the

latest technologies, traveled the world with Glady, Carol and Bobby and friends, and spent many

treasured memories with his daughters and grandchildren.

Most of all, Hugh will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband and father, with a special

bond with his grandchildren. He will be celebrated in the memories of his daughter, his

grandchildren, his great grandson and his neighbors and friends who were like family. He was

witty and joyful, the first to get on the ground to play with his grandkids and Bayou Glen

neighbors. He was a man of enduring integrity, wisdom and character. He provided for his family,

loved his wife and built community wherever he went. He is loved. He will be missed. His legacy

will live on in his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Second Baptist Church in Hugh’s name.

A memorial service for Hugh will be held Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. Following the memorial service will be a reception from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.