Never saw this on MJ about famous natives! Who knew? Chuck Williams, founder of Williams Sonoma and major influence on American cooking was born right here in Jax! He just died at 100 and here is an excerpt of his obituary from the Washington Post:
QuoteCharles Edward Williams was born Oct. 2, 1915, in Jacksonville, Fla., and developed a love of cooking from his grandmother, who had at one time owned a restaurant. "Being in the kitchen with her made me happy," he once told an interviewer, and those memories sustained him through the Depression.
His father moved the family to California for a fresh start after his vehicle-repair business failed. When prospects did not improve, the father abandoned the family.
Chuck Williams found work and a place to live at a date farm near Indio, Calif., attending high school in the mornings. He remained on the West Coast to finish school after his mother returned to Florida. Meanwhile, his sister died in 1933 from a head injury after being hit with a baseball.
During World War II, Mr. Williams repaired aircraft in East Africa and India. After the war, he settled in Sonoma.
Full story here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/chuck-williams-founder-of-williams-sonoma-kitchen-stores-dies-at-100/2015/12/05/f12672b8-9ba3-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/chuck-williams-founder-of-williams-sonoma-kitchen-stores-dies-at-100/2015/12/05/f12672b8-9ba3-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html)
A few more details from the NY Times:
QuoteCharles Edward Williams, who always used his nickname, was born on Oct. 2, 1915, in Jacksonville, Fla., one of two children of Charles and Marie Shaw Williams. His parents were often absent, and his earliest memories were of his maternal grandmother, Leona Shaw, who had once owned a restaurant in Lima, Ohio. She taught him a lot about cooking — working without recipes or measures, making pies and mayonnaise, learning to trust his taste and his judgment — which provided a few happy memories from a hard childhood.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/business/chuck-williams-founder-of-williams-sonoma-dies-at-100.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/business/chuck-williams-founder-of-williams-sonoma-dies-at-100.html)
This posted on Facebook by SPAR:
QuoteChuck Williams, founder of Williams-Sonoma kitchen stores, died yesterday at 100 years old. As a boy, he lived in Springfield on Liberty Street (home in photo). He discovered his love of cooking by watching his grandmother work on her 1920's porcelain stove. Just a few months ago, we provided materials to Williams-Sonoma for his birthday celebration.
https://www.facebook.com/Springfield-Preservation-and-Revitalization-SPAR-307036889004/?pnref=story (https://www.facebook.com/Springfield-Preservation-and-Revitalization-SPAR-307036889004/?pnref=story)
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12308710_10153400387754005_252154557667016111_n.jpg?oh=c6721256e0c4ad496fd2479fe0918aa6&oe=56D8D1E3)
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12294749_10153400387899005_6081932609383525901_n.jpg?oh=ec8e60b6fc0e607021725e9db08af483&oe=56DAB6D3)
^Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing!
I used to work for Williams-Sonoma and tell people this story and most didn't believe me. I feel vindicated now....