By Chloe Salveson, Editor in Chief

Dr. Tyrone Williams’ memorial service last Saturday honored his immense legacy on and off Xavier’s campus. 

Dr. Williams—beloved Xavier professor emeritus of English, world-renowned poet and active member in the Cincinnati literary community—passed away March 11 surrounded by friends. 

He was known for his dedication and generosity during his 40-year tenure at Xavier. Many remember his rigorous English and Philosophy, Politics and the Public (PPP) classes, as well as his ever-changing Literature and the Moral Imagination course. 

Dr. Rachel Chrastil, provost and chief academic officer, was a close friend and colleague of Dr. Williams. 

“He was clearly engaged with students. Anyone who cared about literature, language, poetry and ideas—you were somebody he cared about,” Chrastil said. 

I distinctly remember Zooming into Dr. Williams’ class at 8:30 a.m. on a snowy February morning due to COVID-19. It wasn’t until five minutes after class started that we realized no one else was coming. And yet, I still learned about Uncle Tom’s Children. 

About an hour into our discussion, we were interrupted by a nurse hoping to check some tube or another, and I realized the strange art behind him was actually a hospital bed frame. We never got back on topic. 

Not only was Dr. Williams a dedicated professor to his students, but he was also a dedicated faculty member to his university. 

Dr. Williams started his career at Xavier in 1983 and worked on numerous diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives during his time on campus. He was chair of Shades of X, director of Africana studies, director of English graduate programs and contributed to the creation of the gender and diversity studies major and minor, as well as the Multicultural Fluency Institute.

Dr. John Fairfield, a history professor that started at Xavier with Dr. Williams, met with him twice a week for 40 years. Dr. Williams introduced me to Fairfield after the latter made a joke regarding friendship, retirement and expensive drink.  

“He’s the best friend I’ve ever had in my life,” Fairfield said. “We talked about friendship. We talked about love. We talked about life and death—everything. But the things that I absolutely will remember about him is just the uproarious laughter.”

Fairfield explained, although Dr. Williams would want to be remembered as a poet and creative thinker, he instead is remembered as a beloved and admirable friend.

“Tyrone could get along with everyone, and that’s one of the great things about him. He made people feel like they were special and well loved,” Chrastil noted. 

Philosophy professor Dr. Richard Polt partnered with Dr. Williams for a pop-up typewriter poetry and thought shop in 2019. 

“You’re trying to do something for the public and for the campus, which he was happy to do,” Dr. Polt said. “He gave a lot to the university and other communities.”

After retiring from Xavier, Dr. Williams was appointed as the David Gray Chair of Poetry and Letters at SUNY Buffalo. He maintained close ties to friends, colleagues and students at Xavier. 

“He had a sort of gentle ironic chuckle that I was very fond of,” Polt remembered. “I saw him shortly before he died, and he was still chuckling.” 

Dr. Williams was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Hamilton after a long and devoted marriage.