Biography
John Roger Williams, born on September 13, 1949, in Evanston, Illinois, is a Republican politician and businessman representing Texas's 25th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. Raised in Fort Worth, Texas, he attended Texas Christian University , where he excelled as an All-Southwest Conference baseball player and was named to TCU’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s. After graduating, Williams was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and played in their farm system before transitioning to a career as a small business owner and serving as the head baseball coach at TCU.
In 2005, Governor Rick Perry appointed Williams as the Secretary of State of Texas, a role in which he contributed to significant economic growth and served as the state's Chief Liaison for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs. Elected to Congress in 2012, Williams has been a vocal advocate for small businesses and economic development. He currently chairs the House Small Business Committee and serves on the House Financial Services Committee. His legislative priorities include reducing taxes, decreasing government regulation, and supporting pro-growth policies.
Williams is also deeply involved in sports-related activities in Congress, serving as the chair of the bipartisan Congressional Baseball Caucus and the College Football Caucus. He is the coach and manager of the Republican Congressional Baseball Team.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Education from Texas Christian University, 1972
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Political Experience:
- Secretary of State of Texas, 2005–2007
- U.S. Representative for Texas's 25th Congressional District, 2013–present
- Chairman, House Small Business Committee, 2023–present
- Member, House Financial Services Committee
Notable Achievements
- Authored the "Jumpstart America" tax reform package, which influenced the historic Tax Reform package that modernized America's tax code.
- Appointed to the National Defense Authorization Conference Committee for Fiscal Year 2018, contributing to the largest pay raise for U.S. troops in eight years and increased funding for infrastructure improvements at Fort Hood.
- Elected Chairman of the House Small Business Committee in 2023, advocating for free-market principles and pro-growth policies.
Williams's extensive experience as a small business owner and his commitment to economic development have been central to his legislative work, focusing on reducing government regulation and supporting small businesses across the nation.
