Joseph D. Williams, retired chairman and chief executive
officer of Warner-Lambert Co. – – one of the world’s largest
pharmaceutical companies, has made a gift of stock valued at
$100,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation to benefit his
alma mater. The gift establishes the Joseph D. Williams Pharmacy
Scholarship/Leadership Award and provides scholarship assistance
to University of Nebraska Medical Center students in the College
of Pharmacy.
In making his gift, Williams explained his motivation for
recognizing outstanding pharmacy students. "I am very
pleased to be able to set up a scholarship/leadership award that
recognizes both scholarly achievement as well as significant
community and professional pharmacy activities," said
Williams, a 1950 graduate of the UNMC College of Pharmacy.
The annual scholarship will be awarded to third or fourth year
pharmacy students who have excelled academically and are actively
involved in organizations in the community as well as the
pharmacy profession.
Establishment of the endowed scholarship fund also supports
Campaign Nebraska, the University of Nebraska Foundation’s $375
million major gifts campaign. His gift addresses a key campaign
objective to raise $3 million in scholarships and stipends for
professional and graduate students at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center.
"Mr. Williams is a legend in the pharmaceutical industry
and is widely known throughout the pharmacy profession,"
said Clarence T. Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean, UNMC College of
Pharmacy. "To have his name associated with the College of
Pharmacy brings instant recognition to the College and to the
quality of its pharmacy program. It’s like a ‘good seal of
approval.’"
Williams’ recent gift further illustrates his commitment to
the University of Nebraska and the College of Pharmacy. Last
year, Williams completed a $50,000 pledge to the college that
generated an additional $215,000 in matching gifts from various
companies. Also through Williams, Warner-Lambert made a $500,000
gift to establish an endowed chair, the Parke-Davis Chair in
Pharmaceutics, benefiting the College of Pharmacy. In 1994, the
College of Pharmacy named its auditorium in Williams’ honor to
recognize the significant contributions he made to the pharmacy
profession throughout his career.
A native of Washington, Pa., Williams’ interest in pharmacy
developed in Nebraska where he grew up working in his
grandfather’s Pawnee City drug store. After earning a pharmacy
degree from the University of Nebraska, Williams joined
Parke-Davis in 1950 as a medical service representative and, by
1968, had become director of U.S. marketing. Following the
company’s merger with Warner-Lambert in 1970, Williams held
several key positions before being elected president and chief
operating officer in 1980 and chairman and chief executive
officer in 1984.
Throughout his distinguished career, Williams was recognized
for his support of the pharmacy profession. The American
Pharmaceutical Association presented him its two highest and most
prestigious awards – – the Remington Honor Medal in 1980 and the
Hugo H. Schaefer Award in 1987. He also was awarded 13 honorary
doctorate degrees including a Doctor of Science Degree from the
University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Doctor of Pharmacy
Degree from the UNMC College of Pharmacy.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the
state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient
care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading
centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ
transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and
contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition,
UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other
institution.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a non-profit
corporation supplementing faculty, students, facilities and
programs at the University of Nebraska through gifts by alumni,
friends, corporations and other foundations.