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Williamson served on the Texas House/Senate Budget Conference Committee, Appropriations Committee (vice chairman), and the Ways And Means (tax-writing) Committee. He was cited in 1989 and 1991 by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine as among the "Ten Best Legislators" in the state. In 1997, ''The Dallas Morning News''' named him the "Best of the 75th Legislative Session." The Texas Chamber of Commerce gave Williamson its "Leadership Award" in 1992. He served on the Southern Regional Education Board, Legislative Budget Board, Department of Information Resources Board, Uniform Statewide Accounting System Committee, the Southern Legislative Conference, and the Weatherford Little League Association.<ref name=obit>Richard F. Williamson obituary, Galbreatih-Pickard Funeral Home, Weatherford, Texas, no longer on-line.</ref>​

Williamson served on the Texas House/Senate Budget Conference Committee, Appropriations Committee (vice chairman), and the Ways And Means (tax-writing) Committee. He was cited in 1989 and 1991 by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine as among the "Ten Best Legislators" in the state. In 1997, ''The Dallas Morning News''' named him the "Best of the 75th Legislative Session." The Texas Chamber of Commerce gave Williamson its "Leadership Award" in 1992. He served on the Southern Regional Education Board, Legislative Budget Board, Department of Information Resources Board, Uniform Statewide Accounting System Committee, the Southern Legislative Conference, and the Weatherford Little League Association.<ref name=obit>Richard F. Williamson obituary, Galbreatih-Pickard Funeral Home, Weatherford, Texas, no longer on-line.</ref>​

In 2001, Governor [[Rick Perry]], Williamson's former legislative colleague and roommate, and also a Democrat-turned-Republican appointed Williamson to the Transportation Commission; three years later on January 29, 2004, he was named chairman of the five-member panel which regulates transportation policies. Members of the commission are nominated by the governor for regular six-year appointments and confirmed with a two-thirds vote of the 31-member state Senate. On the commission, Williamson was a strong proponent of toll roads to expand the state transportation network. He supported efforts to bring about Perry's favorite proposed project, the Trans-Texas Corridor,<ref name=mcurry>Matt Curry, Associated Press, "Transportation Chairman Williamson dead at 55," December 31, 2007.</ref>​ but the plans to build the highway highway were scrapped in 2010.

In 2001, Governor [[Rick Perry]], Williamson's former legislative colleague and roommate, and also a Democrat-turned-Republican, appointed Williamson to the Transportation Commission; three years later on January 29, 2004, he was named chairman of the five-member panel which regulates transportation policies. Members of the commission are nominated by the governor for regular six-year appointments and confirmed with a two-thirds vote of the 31-member state Senate. On the commission, Williamson was a strong proponent of toll roads to expand the state transportation network. He supported efforts to bring about Perry's favorite proposed project, the Trans-Texas Corridor,<ref name=mcurry>Matt Curry, Associated Press, "Transportation Chairman Williamson dead at 55," December 31, 2007.</ref>​ but the plans to build the highway highway were scrapped in 2010.

Williamson was born in [[Abilene]] in Taylor County in west Texas. He graduated in 1974 from the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. He moved to Weatherford and co-founded RAW Energy. Later, he started his own [[natural gas]] production company, MKS Consulting.<ref name=obit/>​

Williamson was born in [[Abilene]] in Taylor County in west Texas. He graduated in 1974 from the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. He moved to Weatherford and co-founded RAW Energy. Later, he started his own [[natural gas]] production company, MKS Consulting.<ref name=obit/>​