Mr. Williamson attended the University of Southern California, where he pledged Sigma Chi and was a lineman on the Trojan football team. He graduated in 1934 with a bachelor of science degree in education. He later became a football coach at South Pasadena/San Marino High School, where he coached for 11 years and took his teams to nine league championships, a record that remains unbroken. He was later awarded a doctorate in education in 1961 from USC. Mr. Williamson then became an assistant superintendent of the Palos Verdes Unified School District, where he worked until he retired in 1972.
Mr. Williamson was a 32nd Degree Mason Scottish Rite Shriner and a member of Al Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Trojan Coaches Club, CIF-Southern Section Football Official's Association and EDUCARE-USC.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marabeth Orr Williamson; daughter Sharon Wilson (SPHS '57) and husband Ron of Templeton; grandchildren Kimberly Wilson of Oakland, Ronalee Andersen of Crescent City, Frank Randall Wilson of Las Vegas; and two great-grandchildren.
The Tribune, March 31, 2002
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A Tribute to Frank Williamson from Fred Moore '47
I met Frank years before going to South Pas High. Fellow Huntington Elementary schoomate Don Dixon '46 and I were playing catch when Frank and his wife came to visit my childhood neighbors, friends from their shared days at USC. Don threw a pass that I bobbled right into Frank's hands. He tossed it back with a laughing, "That was a pretty moldy catch!" Later when the Williamson/Foreman foursome was leaving, Frank looked at my latest snag and called out something like "Not quite so moldy!" From then on he always called me "Moldy."
Several years later I showed up in a gym class at South Pas. Calling the roll, Frank looked up and called out, "Hi Moldy!" I often chose handball, playing on the rickety 3-wall courts beside the old brick gym. Now and then Frank would join in...a pretty even match...he was the smarter...I was the quicker.
In later years he went to Monrovia High as football coach and Assistant Dean of Boys. A date, Nancy Shryock '50, and I went to Monrovia for a Friday night South Pas game and caught up with Frank for a brief post-game mid-field greeting. Our trails crossed several times after that, including a post-Army visit by which time he was Principal at Monrovia. Shared memories in his office, a walk around the campus, and conversation about the intervening years and -- knock my socks off! -- Frank offered me a job teaching math and history at Monrovia. But I declined, heading for a career in my basic interest -- aviation.
Later, when a controversial program was proposed for Claremont schools, I needed reliable information. By then Frank was School Superintendent in Palos Verdes, and, as usual, greeted my visit with a laugh and a hearty, "Hi Moldy!"
As the men who played football for Frank learned, many valuable life lessons learned on the field -- and handball court -- apply to life. In addition to improving my handball game "in some closet is a trophy as 2nd Army champ". Frank taught me that it's wise to strive for smarter rather than quicker.
Thank you Frank, you were a good man, a good role model, and a good friend. You are missed.
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