Nisqually Valley News
Born in Pendleton, Oregon the land of the Indians, horses, and festive annual round-ups, Crawford E. Williams of the Puget Sound Power and Light Co., still must confess to an inability to “sit” a horse in true western style.
“I was only a spectator at the round-ups, not a participant,” he modestly answered in reply to an inquiry concerning his ability as an equestrian. “Besides, I received most of my ‘bringing up’ in a small lumbering town, Post Falls, Idaho.”
“Book larnin” intrigued young Williams who made an extensive study into the mysteries of chemistry and pre medics both at Spokane College and U. C. L. A. in California, only to decide after a year with the Western Electric Company that the romance of electricity and its applications would be more applicable to his abilities.
In 1924 he became an employee of Puget Power in Tacoma, but was transferred to Yelm in 1927 when his company acquired the Thurston County Public Utility Company here and the Avery Electric Company at Roy. After one year in Yelm, Williams, persuaded the lady of his choice, Miss Ruth Banker, of Puyallup, that this town was the “best in the West” for newlyweds, and they were married in April of 1928. Evidently Mrs. Williams agreed with him for the couple have continued their residence here, and have two daughters attending grade school, Jo Ann, who is twelve, and Retha Sue, who is ten.
“One glance backward over these years convinces me of the wisdom of Puget Sound in selecting Yelm as the area headquarters; for this community has been endowed with the personalities and the spirit that assure a steady growth in responsibility and leadership of the civic, education and commercial establishments in this area. I am proud to be a citizen of Yelm,” empathetically stated Williams.
The Yelm Lions Club, of which he is secretary, and the ? ? Committee of which he is coordinated, takes up most of his time and middle classed as the hobbies of the personable Crawford Williams, of ? are proud to have him as a resident of this community.”