National Football Foundation

As soon as Pete Williams started to play football for the United States Naval Academy he was given the obligatory nickname. Naturally, it had to be Pistol Pete. And it wasn't bad.

On the football field he was, indeed, a pistol, a rugged little scatback with more moves than a coast-to-coast trucking company.

But it is not for his fine Navy football career that Ralph Peter Williams is being honored tonight. Instead, he is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for 26 distinguished years as a referee in the Southeastern Conference.

After graduation from Annapolis in the class of 1949, Pete Williams served aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer. Following his discharge in 1954 he went back to college, enrolling at the University of Florida where in 1957 he received a Master of Science degree in civil engineering.

It was then Pete Williams started a 26-year-avocation as a college referee. During his years of activity (1957-83) with the Southeastern Conference, he served in various capacities including stints as president, chief referee and as a member of the Coaches and Officials Committee.

During his college officiating career, Williams refereed in 235 regular season games and 26 bowl games. He was considered one of the best.

The esteem in which he was held as a top-ranking referee is summarized in his citation which reads: "Pete Williams has been granted the highest honors of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, in recognition of his outstanding officiating in intercollegiate competition, his sportsmanship, integrity, character and his contribution to the sport of football."

At Navy, Pistol Pete Williams became one of the better halfbacks in college football during the 1946-48 span. After playing on the Plebe team in 1945, Williams, in only his second year at Annapolis, became the Middies' starting halfback.

In the third game of his third season he was injured, but returned in 1948 to reclaim his starting role. In his final season he was elected by his teammates as co-captain of the team.

He was a flashy back who could run, pass and kick. He was on the small side (5-10, 173 pounds) but his elusiveness made him a powerful offensive weapon for Navy. And he had the speed, enough so that he also competed on the Annapolis track teams as a sprinter.

After his final season at the Naval Academy, Williams was chosen to play in the Shrine North-South game and the New York Herald Tribune College All-Star versus New York Giants game.

Settling back in his hometown of Miami, Pete Williams rose to become vice president of Miami Crushed Rock, Inc. He is today a consulting engineer.

Williams, from the time he started his business career, has been active in community affairs. He has served as an Elder and Member of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Miami; remained active in the National Guard; served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Miami Touchdown Club and has been a member of the Orange Bowl Committee since 1977.

Looking back at his 26 years as a college football official, Ralph (Pistol Pete) Williams said, "It was a great and wonderful experience. I loved playing football in high school and at the Naval Academy and working as an official kept me close to the college game. What could be better? I met a lot of wonderful young men, some great coaches and had the pleasure of working with other officials who give so much to college football."

Upon learning of his election to the College Football Hall of Fame, Williams said, "I consider it a great compliment. I was thrilled when I was informed of my nomination and then to be elected is, indeed, an honor. Every time I stepped on a football field I tried to give it the very best I had and it is a particular pleasure to know that others associated with this great game feel my work was worthy of this high honor."