Sam B. Williams

Who was Sam B. Williams?

Sam Barlow Williams was an American inventor and founder of Williams International. He was particularly known for his development of the small fan-jet engine. He received several prestigious awards for innovation in aviation:

Collier Trophy 1978, presented by President Jimmy Carter;

Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy 1988, presented by President Ronald Reagan; and

National Medal of Technology, presented by President Bill Clinton.

Williams was also an inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Aviation Hall of Fame 1998. Williams also promoted inventors and inventions in medical research for cancer and for degenerative eye disease, with which he was afflicted.

Williams was a mechanical engineer for the Chrysler Corporation before starting his own company to develop and build small gas turbine engines. The first production contract was for an experimental gas turbine for a marine outboard.