Brother Jimmy JD Williams' Story
Brother Jimmy D. Williams, commonly known as JD, was born on December 24, 1961, in New Hebron, Mississippi, to John H. and Ella M. Williams. In 1977, he and his family, which included his two sisters, Brenda F. Ajegba and Quinonis Williams, relocated to Houston, Texas. There, he completed his high school education at Evans E. Worthing High School, graduating in 1979. Afterwards, he began his studies in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University in the fall semester of 1979.
Jimmy's leadership abilities had an immediate influence on the student community throughout the campus. He served as the Freshman Class Vice-President and later as the Sophomore Class President. His primary focus was on identifying the overall needs of the students and effectively relaying those needs and concerns to the school administration. He adopted a catchy slogan, “Vote for: J.D. Dogsmire for Vice-President of the freshman class,” which contributed to his growing recognition. It was during this time that he became known as J.D. instead of Jimmy, a name that originated at Prairie View A&M University and continues to be used today. While campaigning for the position of sophomore president, he delivered a remarkable speech to the student body, which was published in the school newspaper, further boosting his popularity among the student body.
As a first-year student, Brother Jimmy shared a room with Brother Algie Armstead. Brother Algie recruited him into the fraternity, recognizing that Brother Jimmy's character was ideally suited to shape the future of Rhomeo. As the youngest among them, he took on the role of the inaugural Treasurer for the Delta Alpha Chapter. His leadership on campus and his approach to personal presentation served as significant influences within the Rhomeo community. Jimmy believed in the importance of presenting oneself in a manner that aligns with how one wishes to be perceived by peers, educators, and potential employers. He exemplified the values of the Rhomeos by upholding high academic standards and dressing appropriately for success.
Jimmy maintained his leadership role on campus as the Residents Overseer of Fuller Hall, where he guided younger students in recognizing their potential for achieving success in life. In both 1981 and 1982, he was honored by the Campus Nominating Committee and editors as a Who’s Who student honoree.
From the moment he arrived at Prairie View A&M University, Brother Jimmy distinguished himself academically. He achieved all three levels of honor roll recognition: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. Additionally, he received Excellence Awards for being on the honor roll throughout his entire enrollment at Prairie View. Brother Jimmy completed his degree in just three and a half years, having taken summer courses during his first two years in the Engineering and Science Concept Institute programs at Prairie View. He was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society. Brother Jimmy undertook two summer internships in the field of engineering: the first at Bell Laboratories in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1981, and the second at Union Carbide in Texas City, Texas, in 1982. He graduated on December 18, 1982, and walked across stage on May 1, 1983, with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Further Education:
Jimmy’s dedication at Prairie View A&M University prepared him for an advanced education. He earned a master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering (MMSE), from University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1991. Jimmy also earned a master’s in business administration (MBA), from University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1993.
Words of Encouragement:
“I would encourage everyone to stay focused and keep their eyes on the prize. Make sure they have a plan for college and that whole experience (that vision or plan is likely to change, no problem); plan for what they want to do as they move forward through college and further into life. We as black men are a focal point of social justice and injustice in general and have been since we were brought to this county. Be aware of everything going on with it, contribute in your own way, but don’t get derailed. Lastly, don’t be placed in a “box”, establish goals and things you want to accomplish and drive to make it happen. Your actions and work will make a difference. As I see it, the opportunities will be there. All the best brothers” – JD
Current Achievements:
Jimmy has been privileged to work for 37 years in a field closely related to his studies. Currently, he holds the position of Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at a contract manufacturing firm that caters to the Medical Device, Diagnostics, and pharmaceutical sectors, a role he has occupied since 2012. In his free time, Jimmy finds joy in volunteering as a youth basketball coach. Prior to this, he served as the Director of Quality Systems and Service at American Medical Systems (AMS), a global leader in pelvic health products for both men and women, for a duration of seven and a half years. His career also includes a tenure as Quality Manager at Possis Medical, recognized as a world leader in blood clot removal systems, where he worked for seven years. Additionally, he was employed as a Senior Quality Engineer and Clinical Quality Manager at Medtronic, a global leader in medical product solutions, for eight years. Earlier in his career, he served as a Quality Engineer at Honeywell in the Defense Systems sector for four years, and he began his professional career as a Mechanical Systems Engineer at Dow Chemical for two and a half years after graduating from Prairie View A&M University.
In 2021, Brother Jimmy reconnected with his Elite brothers and regained his financially active status. He assumed the position of Chairman for the newly established Lance A. Wyndon Engineering Foundation. Brother Jimmy JD Williams would successfully oversee the development of the infrastructure for the Lance A. Wyndon Engineering Foundation.
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Sadly on May 10, 2025, Brother Jimmy Dale Williams passed away.