Keith M. Williams

Keith Myers Williams, a sixth-generation Texan, was born July 1, 1955, in Dallas. Keith passed away on November 26, 2025. His family’s American roots run deep, tracing back to Daniel Boone and military service as early as the American Revolution. His ancestors migrated west from Virginia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma and, ultimately, Texas. Among his relatives, he felt a particular connection to Alexander T. Wilson, his second great grandfather and longtime sheriff of Kaufman County, Texas. He attended Conroe High School and graduated with his senior class in 1973.

A devoted public servant and steady presence for his family, Keith built a distinguished career in journalism and government. He began in radio, reporting for KLLL and KSEL from 1975 to 1980, before joining KAMC-TV as a senior reporter and anchor from 1980 to 1989. He co-anchored the 10 p.m. newscast and covered major regional and national events, earning multiple AP and UPI awards for his investigative work and documentaries.

In 1989, Keith moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as press secretary for U.S. Rep. Larry Combest (R-Texas) of the 19th District. When Combest became chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 1998, Keith was named the committee’s communications director, serving until 2002.

From 2003 to 2006, he worked as communications director for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry under Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). He also served as Cochran’s press secretary in 2004, later transitioning to press secretary for Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) when Chambliss assumed the chairmanship. From 2006 to 2009, Keith served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the George W. Bush administration, working under Secretaries Mike Johanns and Ed Schafer.

Keith spent the following decade in the private sector as communications director for the U.S. Grains Council and the National Turkey Federation, retiring in 2018.

He was a 1980 graduate of Texas Tech University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In 2006, he was honored as an Outstanding Alumni by the Texas Tech College of Media and Communication.

Keith is survived by his daughter, Emma Williams of Washington, D.C.; his sister Susan Harkey and brother-in-law Brent Harkey of Lubbock, Texas; and his wife of 29 years, Kathleen M. Williams (Robinson) of Washington, D.C., along with his aunt Betty W. Faegre of Dallas, Texas, his niece Kyleigh Lewis of Lubbock, Texas, his nephew Taylor Harkey of Lubbock, Texas, his niece Mimi Robinson of London, England, and his nephew Seamus Robinson of Rochester, New York, as well as several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kearney Myers Williams and Corinne Tudor Williams.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway Street, Lubbock, TX, on December 4, 2025 at 2 pm. Visitation will be on December 3, 2025 from 6-8 pm at the Venue on Broadway, 2202 Broadway, next to Combest Family Funeral Home.  Final rites and interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Park under the personal care and direction of Combest Family Funeral Homes.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Johnson, Steve Rogers, David Weaver, Chen Burkes, Seamus Robinson and Taylor Harkey.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Sloan, Grayson Lewis, William Lewis, Elijah Harkey, Bryce Gurvin and Brent Harkey.

In lieu of the customary remembrance of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warriors Project or to the First United Methodist Church.