Mack W.H. Williams was born on January 3, 1879, in Morristown, Tennessee. He was the son of J.S. and Mollie Williams, both Tennessee natives. J.S. Williams began his career as a millwright and flour mill operator before transitioning to becoming a builder and contractor.
The Williams family moved from Tennessee to Texas, then to Southwest Missouri, and later settled in Redlands, California in 1899. Prior to relocating to Redlands, Mack W.H. Williams attended public school in Texas and Missouri and went to business college. He had a paint contracting business and eventually transitioned to real estate.
Williams was first elected as mayor of Redlands and as city trustee.
During this period, he completed major infrastructure projects such as the construction of the municipal water plant and the installation of ornamental lighting systems. A significant turning point occurred when he was appointed San Bernardino County treasurer and tax collector in 1915, and later elected as county treasurer in 1918. He served in this position until 1943. During his tenure, he generated substantial savings for San Bernardino County taxpayers by earning interest on the funds that he managed.
In terms of his family life, he married Edith Baughman and together they had four children: Eva, Ray, Donald and Betty. He was also an active member of the Redlands Lodge No. 300; the Redlands Chapter of the Free and Accepted Masons; Knights of Pythias; and the Young Men’s Christian Association, among others.
Additional County Update News – June 6, 2024
- Hot weather returns to San Bernardino County
- San Bernardino County Fire deploys new fire suppression bulldozer, bolstering wildfire response capabilities
- Annual fire hazard abatement inspections to begin in mountains
- Animal Care, Office of Emergency Services, Public Health join forces to promote National Pet Preparedness Month
- ARMC Trauma Center gets named after founding physician, leader
- New infrastructure ushers in a new retail era for San Bernardino County
- Needles Behavioral Health Clinic receives $1M in federal community project funding
- San Bernardino County Preschool Services enhances support for children with special needs
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program exceeds last season filings with $22M in tax refunds
- Operation Consequences: May 25 through May 31
- Things to Do in San Bernardino County
- Pet of the Week