The late William (Bill) Williams was the president and cofounder of Glory Foods, Inc., and was a native of Columbus, Ohio. With his colleagues Daniel A. Charna and Iris Cooper, he developed the concept of Glory Foods in 1989, when research revealed there was a void in the marketplace for food products targeting African American consumers. In 1992, Glory Foods began distributing its 17 Southern-style food products in supermarkets throughout Central Ohio.

Williams attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated with honors. He went on to obtain his bachelor's degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Massachusetts. He then spent more than 20 years as a food and beverage manager for hotel and restaurant chains, including Sheraton Tobacco Valley Inn, Hotel Sonesta and The Playboy Club Hotel.

Williams was one of Columbus, Ohio's most respected businessmen and restaurateurs. In addition to ownership of Glory Foods, he also owned and managed a specialty food distribution company and the Marble Gang restaurant. A strong advocate for minority representation in the food and beverage industry, Williams served on numerous boards supporting this effort, and was cochairman of Ohio State's University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences where he was active in raising scholarship endowments for minority students pursuing degrees in agribusiness. Williams' vision for creating a Southern food company that celebrates the time-honored tradition of down-home Southern cooking continues to grow and flourish.

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