John Reesor Williams | |
---|---|
Ontario MPP | |
In office 1975–1985 |
|
Preceded by | New riding |
Succeeded by | Elinor Caplan |
Constituency | Oriole |
Personal details | |
Born |
Toronto, Ontario |
September 9, 1930
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Lorraine Mary (O'Donnell) Williams |
Children | 5 |
Profession | Lawyer |
John Reesor Williams (born September 9, 1930) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1985, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller.
Williams was born in Toronto, the son of Luella Mae Maud (Reesor) and Thomas John Williams. He was educated at the University of Western Ontario and Osgoode Hall Law School. He worked as a barrister and solicitor before entering political life. Comedian Harland Williams is one of his five children.
His mother was the daughter of George Reesor, a descendant of one of the German families that originally settled Markham, Ontario in 1794.
Williams was an alderman in North York from 1963 to 1972, and was deputy mayor and Controller of the borough from 1973 to 1974. He also served on the Metro Toronto Council during this period, and was a board member of St. Matthew the Apostle Anglican Church in 1971. From 1973 to 1975, he served on the board of governors for Seneca College.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election, defeating Liberal candidate Bob Reid by 239 votes in the North York district of Oriole. He was re-elected with an increased majority in the 1977 and 1981 elections, and served as a backbench supporter of the Bill Davis government.