Black History Month: Photojournalist Keith Williams twice shared in Pulitzer Prize
Keith Williams was just 17 years old when he was hired to be a photographer for The (Henderson) Gleaner-Journal in 1967. Just two years later, a humorous photo he shot appeared in the June 6, 1969 issue of Life magazine, which at the time had a circulation of about 8.5 million.
After five years with the Henderson newspaper, he was hired by The (Louisville) Courier-Journal, considered one of America’s finest newspapers.
Williams would go on to share in two Pulitzer Prizes — for feature photography in 1976 for coverage of school desegregation in Jefferson County and again in 1989 for coverage and follow-up of a bus crash that killed 24 kids and three adults.
Williams photographed Louisville native Muhammad Ali on multiple occasions, and some of his photos appeared in the 2018 book, “Picture: Muhammad Ali.”
Williams remained with the C-J for 34 years before retiring in 2007. He became an ordained minister in 2014 and with his wife ministered to homeless individuals in Louisville.
The former Henderson Community College student in 2012 received the HCC Board of Directors Distinguished Alumni Award; in 2016, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Black History Month: Photojournalist Williams twice shared Pulitzer Prize
