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Hall of Fame 1985Rev. Roswell WilliamsVideo |
Rev. Roswell C. Williams S.J. joined the faculty of Creighton University in Omaha in 1945. Williams understood the importance of television as a mass medium and as an aid to education Before commercial television came to Omaha in 1949, Williams trained production employees of (then) WOW-TV, channel 6 with equipment located on a theater stage at CU. Williams established KOCU, a campus based radio operation, to prepare students for broadcasting careers. He was a pioneer in the use of closed circuit television to teach multiple sections of large enrollment classes. Williams also was a leader in the uses of television to teach students in the medical and health sciences. His career as a Jesuit priest and as a professor blended with his visionary understanding of the importance of broadcasting in society. He was the chair of the journalism department from 1948 to 1956 and also served as Director of Communication Arts until he retired in 1973. Father Williams died in 1976.