Roman Daniel Williams, born December 20, 1940, in Gillette, Arkansas to parents Woodrow Williams and Cleophis Palmer. At the age of 10, Williams joined his four brothers John Bass, Leo Robinson, Curtis Robinson, and Vernon Robinson in Seattle, WA, along with his stepfather Clyde Robinson and mother Cleophis Robinson. He attended Madrona Elementary School, Meany Junior High School, and graduated from Garfield High School in 1959. He was selected to the All-City Basketball team his senior year at Garfield High School. Basketball was his first love of sports.
After graduation, Williams worked for the City of Seattle Mayor’s Office youth programs; developed a band called The Nomads, one of the greatest bands of the ’60s in the Pacific Northwest; attended Central Washington University; entered the United States Army, then later moved to Hawaii for three years after the death of his mother, Cleophis Robinson. Williams then relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he spent over 40 years working in the entertainment and aerospace industries. He owned and managed a championship ASA modified softball team called Sting in North Hollywood, CA; returned to Seattle in 2004 and worked for The Police Athletic League (PAL), teaching and coaching high school students at the Muckleshoot Reservation High School, his beloved game of basketball. Williams never stopped competing in sports; he loved participating in the sport of golf until two shoulder surgeries would no longer allow him to participate.
Williams had friends from everywhere and from every walk of life; he made a friend no matter where he was, people always gravitated towards him. He was the guy who knew where all the great parties were; he was a Man’s Man and had a way of making all of his friends feel special; there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his friends. He had a smile that melted your heart, and he spent his final years reestablishing relationships with friends from the past and always allowing new relationships to enter into his life.
Williams fathered two children, Michelle Williams, who passed away in 2023, and his son, Erico Williams, who passed in 2015. He leaves behind two grandsons, Seth Gonzalez of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bryan Haynes of Renton, Washington.
Williams also leaves behind many nieces and nephews he has helped raise throughout the years; Russel Bass, Las Vegas; Robert Bass, Las Vegas; Lori Robinson, Seattle; Cameron Robinson, Lynwood, WA; Farisa Robinson, Federal Way; Chima Robinson, Seattle; Vernita Robinson, Seattle; Christy Robinson, Seattle; and Vernon Robinson, Jr., Seattle. Also, Jordan Lawrence, his great-nephew who lives in Texas; Skye Robinson of Lynwood, WA; Camille Robinson of Tri Cities, Washington.
His family will miss him greatly; he always had a song in his heart for each and every one of them. He would wake up in the morning singing a song he thought of all night long and would sing that same song throughout the day.
A Celebration of Life and Reception for Williams will be held on Friday, July 19 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Royal Esquire Club – 5016 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118.
