Born in Cope, South Carolina, RANSOME JUDSON WILLIAMS studied at the Medical College of South Carolina in Charleston, where he later served on the Board of Trustees. He was President of Delta Drug Company in Myrtle Beach, part owner of a drugstore in Mullins, and manager of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company in Florence. He was a member of the Marion County Board of Education, Mayor of Mullins, and a South Carolina state representative prior to being elected Lieutenant Governor. In his capacity as Lieutenant Governor, he succeeded to the governorship upon the resignation of Olin Johnston. During Williams’ tenure as governor, a Department of Research, Planning and Development was established and a retirement system for public employees and teachers was created. In addition, the state legislature approved retention of the poll tax and lowered the voting age for members of the Democratic Party.