His father was in the hardware business and, according to Williams, the demand for tents in Caddo, Oklahoma where he grew up at the turn of the century was such that they were purchased before they had even been unloaded from wagons.

[2] James (sic) Williams was reported in Oklahoma City, working as a delivery driver in 1910, but returned to Caddo in 1911.

They moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1922, where he opened some unspecified business, but soon returned again to Caddo.

Williams used a humorous postcard in opposition to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his campaign for lieutenant governor, a gimmick that the post office stopped.

[7] He ran for a second term in 1958 and this time placed first in the Democratic primary with 176,171 votes (40.97%) to State Representative George Nigh's 80,727 (18.77%).