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Lucas Oil Says Good Bye to an old Friend
It is with great sorrow that our friend and long time supporter, the Country Western Entertainment Legend, Gene Williams, has passed away.
The star, creator and producer of the "Gene Williams Country Television Show," was well known for a long and successful career. In 1990, Gene first caught the eye of entrepreneurial businessman, Forrest Lucas, who held many of the same hard working American Values and thought Williams was worthy of support. This spawned a long friendship lasting over 20 years.
The Gene Williams Country Music Television Show, sponsored by Lucas Oil, is seen coast-to-coast and border-to-border broadcasting out to more than 50 million homes weekly. The show was taped live at the 50's at the Hop Theatre inside the Branson Meadows Mall. Gene Williams and the show’s co-host Katie Lynn would interview a celebrity guest each week and the guest and Katie Lynn would perform with Williams’ Country Junction Band.
Williams’ love of country music began while in school – the same school attended by Johnny Cash in Dyess, Ark. His first job in country music was as a DJ for KWAM radio. He was named Grand Ole Opry DJ of the Year in 1961.
It didn’t take Williams long to move into television and within four months he had three TV shows. Over the past five decades, his TV shows have won numerous awards and become the largest syndicated country music TV show not affiliated with Nashville. The show was rated as the most popular TV show in national ratings by WNGF Buffalo Broadcasting of New York and as a favorite TV show in a national magazine. Williams even helped Dr. Phil make a dream come true for one of his guests by making him a feature country singer on Williams’ show.
The Gene Williams Country Music TV Show was featured in the June 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens as a nostalgia experience in a live television show. For the past eight years the show has been taped in Branson live before a studio audience. Guests have included Mickey Gilley, who is his current announcer, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Johnny Lee, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, the Blackwood Brothers, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Charlie Louvin, Mary Lou Turner, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, Porter Wagoner, Jim Owen, Buck Trent, Wanda Jackson and many more.
Williams has been honored by his hometown with a road named after him following a 2007 key to the city presentation and a historical marker recognizing his support to help preserve the town’s history. A historical building in Dyess will be a museum recognizing former residents, Johnny Cash, Tommy Cash and Williams. He was grand marshal in the first Dyess Christmas Parade in 2008.
He has also received the key to the city of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., for his work to bring significant country entertainment to the resort community during its early development and April 11, 2009, was named Gene Williams Day.
Williams was the recipient of an honorary doctorate in television and broadcasting communications from St. Martins College for his community commitment to the industry. Both the States of Arkansas and Missouri honored Gene for his work in the tourism, & entertainment industries as well as his dedication to community outreach & involvement. Gene had also been nominated for induction into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame and is a member of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Other significant accolades include Gene receiving 3 2007 National Telly Awards and a 2009 induction into the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame.
Williams’ television career led to his making two movies, Country Music Jamboree and Sound of Country Music that starred more than 39 Grand Ole Opry stars. He has worked with such greats as Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, Charlie Walker, Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Minnie Pearl and Jack Greene and many more.
In Williams’ nomination biography, Ross wrote, “Gene is a man who strives to keep alive the spirit of country music for all music fans.” Williams’ fans recently presented him with a Gold Record for the #1 classic country music show in America
He will surely be missed.
