For more than forty years, as a lawyer, state representative, state senator, and nationally known leader, Hardy Williams has been a vociferous advocate for the rights of all people. The dramatic and straight talking father of independent political movement in Philadelphia, Hardy Williams was not afraid to challenge “politics as usual” by breaking party and racial lines and standing up for what he thought was right.

Williams, a Philadelphia native, was born April 14, 1931. After graduation from West Philadelphia High School, Williams first entered Cheyney University then transferred to Pennsylvania State University. The first African-American basketball player in the University’s 61-year history, Williams later became team captain and led Penn State to its first tournament championship in 32 years. A scholar-athlete, he was also president of the Pre-Legal Society and secretary-treasurer of the Athletic Association. Returning to Philadelphia, Williams enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was elected to the honor society and earned his LL.D.

While a practicing attorney, Williams was appointed to the City Solicitor’s office, though growing up with limited means had always inspired him to enter public service. He resigned in 1965 and ran for City Council as an independent democratic candidate from the Third District. Williams was elected to the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1968 and began his first term as a state representative in 1969. In 1971, Williams was the first African-American candidate for mayor in Philadelphia to garner widespread public support. His efforts led to the election of other independent Democrats throughout the city, from committee people to the mayor’s office. W. Wilson Goode, the first African-American mayor of Philadelphia, acquired his initial political experience serving as co-campaign manager for Williams’ 1971 mayoral bid.

During his tenure as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Williams was able to get legislation passed that eliminated the usage of “illegitimate” on birth certificates, school records, and other legal documents. The term affected an individual’s ability to inherit, had birth right consequences and other legal ramifications. Williams was re-elected to six House terms until 1982, when he ran successfully as an independent Democrat for state senator. In the Senate, Williams serviced was the minority chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the chairman of a taskforce on violence as a public health concern.

Williams championed the fight to eliminate police brutality, such as the incident involving Window washing Charlie. He was always in the forefront organizing the fight against Black on Black crime and efforts to increase employment and business opportunities for members of the African-American community.

In 1994, Williams founded and became executive director of Black Family Services after having served on its board for many years. He continued to serve in the state senate as well, believing his ultimate objective in both positions to be the same. Earlier that year, the state’s legislative body passed cuts in welfare spending that threatened those at the lean end of the economic scale. Williams was not in favor of the cuts and felt that, although he had not been able to prevent the legislation in Harrisburg, he could contribute through taking on this additional role. He retired from the Pennsylvania Senate in 1998, replaced by his son Anthony Hardy Williams.
Williams has another son Clifford, two daughters Lisa and Lanna, and several grandchildren.

Aside from his legislative service, Williams founded the Organized Anti-Crime Community Network (OACCN), worked with Blacks Networking for Progress, Delaware Valley Ecumenical Council, African-American Delaware Valley Port Corporation, and was instrumental in the establishment as the highly successful youth violence intervention program, Crisis Intervention Network. He is also the namesake and first recipient of the Hardy Williams Award for Excellence presented by the Black Law School Association of the University of Pennsylvania.

“We need to respond, in a comprehensive way, to the growing plight of the underprivileged in our society,” Williams once said. “I’m only concerned about trying to do everything necessary to get people to function and work together for the future of our children.”