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'''Richard F. Williamson''', known as '''Ric Williamson''' (January 25, 1952 – December 30, 2007), was the chairman of the [[Texas]] Transportation Commission and from 1985 to 1999 a  [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 61, which includes Parker and Wise counties to the west of [[Fort Worth]]. He resided in Weatherford in Parker County.​

'''Richard F. Williamson''', known as '''Ric Williamson''' (January 25, 1952 – December 30, 2007), was the chairman of the [[Texas]] Transportation Commission and from 1985 to 1999 a  [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 61, which includes Parker and Wise counties to the west of [[Fort Worth]]. He resided in Weatherford in Parker County.​

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Williamson was elected to the state House as a Democrat in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992. In the latter contest, he defeated Republican challenger David Kubosh, 28,709 (63.8 percent) to 16,269 (36.2 percent). In 1994, Williamson ran for the first time as a Republican and defeated Democrat Robert R. Hopkins, 22,898 (65.1 percent) to 12,281 (34.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1994.</ref> He was unopposed as a Republican in 1996 but did not seek reelection in 1998. He was succeeded by the Republican Phillip Stephen "Phil" King, also of Weatherford. King became a leading figure in the [[conservative]] faction in the state House of Representatives.​

Williamson was elected to the state House as a Democrat in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992. In the latter contest, he defeated Republican challenger David Kubosh, 28,709 (63.8 percent) to 16,269 (36.2 percent). In 1994, Williamson ran for the first time as a Republican and defeated Democrat Robert R. Hopkins, 22,898 (65.1 percent) to 12,281 (34.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1994.</ref> He was unopposed as a Republican in 1996 but did not seek reelection in 1998. He was succeeded by the Republican Phillip Stephen "Phil" King, also of Weatherford. King became a leading figure in the [[conservative]] faction in the state House of Representatives.​

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A heavy smoker, Williamson died of his third [[heart attack]]. Governor Perry eulogized his friend by quoting from the Irish satirist [[Jonathan Swift]]. Perry said that Williamson was the most persuasive individual that he had ever encountered. Williamson had urged Perry in 1998 to seek the lieutenant governorship to succeed the Democrat Bob Bullock. From this office, Perry succeeded to the governorship two years later in December 2000, when [[George W. Bush]] resigned in preparation for his presidential inauguration in 2001.​

A heavy smoker, Williamson died of his third [[heart attack]]. Governor Perry eulogized his friend by quoting from the Irish satirist [[Jonathan Swift]]. Perry said that Williamson was the most persuasive individual that he had ever encountered. Williamson had urged Perry in 1998 to seek the lieutenant governorship to succeed the Democrat Bob Bullock. From this office, Perry succeeded to the governorship two years later in December 2000, when [[George W. Bush]] resigned in preparation for his presidential inauguration in 2001.​

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Williamson with his wife, Mary Ann M. Williamson(born 1956), had three daughters, Melissa Meyer and husband Randy of Weatherford,  Katherine Strange and husband Matthew of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], and Sara Williamson, also of Houston, unmarried at the time of her father's death.  He was survived by two grandchildren and his mother, Jane Gray and her husband, Gordon Gray, of Abilene. Williamson was [[cremation|cremated]]. Memorial services were held on January 3, 2008, in the Jerry Durant Auditorium of Weatherford High School.<ref name=obit/> Perry said that Williamson's "passion to serve his beloved State of Texas was unmatched, and his determination to help our state meet it future challenges was unparalleled. He will be missed beyond words."<ref name=mcurry/>​

Williamson with his wife, Mary Ann M. Williamson (born 1956), had three daughters, Melissa Meyer and husband Randy of Weatherford,  Katherine Strange and husband Matthew of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], and Sara Williamson, also of Houston, unmarried at the time of her father's death.  He was survived by two grandchildren and his mother, Jane Gray and her husband, Gordon Gray, of Abilene. Williamson was [[cremation|cremated]]. Memorial services were held on January 3, 2008, in the Jerry Durant Auditorium of Weatherford High School.<ref name=obit/> Perry said that Williamson's "passion to serve his beloved State of Texas was unmatched, and his determination to help our state meet it future challenges was unparalleled. He will be missed beyond words."<ref name=mcurry/>​

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==References==