Born in Hoschton, GA, raised in Rockmart, Dalton, and Winder GA. After two years at VMI he won the unique honor of appointment to command the Battalion of Cadets, a fourth year honor, before departing to attend West Point Military Academy on the recommendation of Senator Richard B. Russell. Following graduation in 1949 he was commissioned in cavalry and began a career that made him one of the Armyâ??s foremost armored experts, serving six tours commanding armored units on the East German border. Following two years of graduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned an MS in Engineering, and a tour in Vietnam, he was assigned as Senior Project Manager to work on the M60A3 tank, a new version of the M60A1 Tank which been in service since 1963. The new M60A3 met unprecedented success in war. The US Marines used it in the Gulf War. It remained in service alongside its successor the M1Abrams in the United States until phased out in 1997. It is still highly regarded by the worldâ??s tank forces and serves as the main battle tank in 21 countries including Israel, Turkey and Egypt. In retirement he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Atlanta from 1987 to 1990. General Williamsonâ??s first marriage to Olwen Thomas ended in divorce. His second wife, Linda Collins, died in 2009. He is survived by his children, Alice Ann Williamson of Wilmington, NC; Attorney and prize-winning author Callie Williamson of Spring Hope, NC; Dr. Tom Williamson of Macon, GA; Hugh Williamson of the FBI, and ten grandchildren. "At his request cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockmart, Georgia on December 15, 2012. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be sent to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation."