Richard G. Williams, Jr. is an award-winning author and frequent speaker on subjects related to the Civil War. A former contributor to the “Military History” column of the Washington Times, he has spoken at Liberty University’s Annual Civil War Seminar, at Lee Chapel in Lexington, Virginia, and at West Virginia University’s Jackson’s Mill. In addition, Williams regularly contributes articles about the Civil War and Virginia history to various publications and websites, including his own Old Virginia Blog. He coproduced the video series Institute on the Constitution, which won a national award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
Williams was selected for membership in the Bonnie Blue Society, a literary organization focusing on the history of the Confederacy, and was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. The United Daughters of the Confederacy awarded Williams the Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal, the highest award bestowed by the UDC to non-members. In 2007, Williams was presented with Kappa Alpha Order’s prestigious Robert E. Lee Appreciation Award. It marked the first time the award has been given since 1997.
A former publisher, freelance writer, columnist, book reviewer, and documentary film consultant and producer, Williams was also a gubernatorial appointee, field representative for the Christian Law Association, and a magistrate for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has been active in his local community as a Sunday-school teacher, 4-H leader, and YMCA youth basketball coach.
Williams is the descendant of three Confederate soldiers and is a ninth-generation grandson of the Rev. Roger Williams, the founder of the colony of Rhode Island and of the first Baptist church in America. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Civil War Chaplains Research Center and Museum Foundation in Lynchburg, Virginia. Williams also serves as chaplain for the Stonewall Brigade Camp #1296, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Lexington, where he also conducts tours of that historic town. He lives with his wife in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and enjoys spending time with his eighteen grandchildren.
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