Rep. Wilhour hosts ceremony for St. Elmo native: Section of U.S. 40 named 'Lt. Bruce A. Williams Memorial Highway'

Nov. 28—State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, hosted a dedication ceremony earlier this month for the family of St. Elmo native Bruce A. Williams, who died 25 years ago in 1998 while on helicopter maneuvers in the California Sequoia National Forest.

Held Nov. 13 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7676 located at 320 W. Cumberland Road in Altamont, the Williams family traveled from several states to honor the memory and sacrifice of Navy Lt. Williams.

Wilhour sponsored House Joint Resolution 34, with State Senator Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, sponsoring the legislation in the Senate. The legislation designates the section of U.S. Route 40 from its intersection with Illinois Route 128 through St. Elmo to its intersection with North 1800 Street (Avena Road) as the "Lt. Bruce A. Williams Memorial Highway." Signage was installed the morning of the ceremony at each end of the 6.6 mile stretch of highway, also known as part of the historic Cumberland Road from 1777 to 1799.

"The positive impact Lt. Williams had on people was evident by the many family who traveled from several states for the ceremony," Wilhour said in a press release.

In addition to his parents and several relatives from St. Elmo, his widow, two of his children and two grandchildren traveled from Michigan, his brother and family from Texas, his sister and family from Indiana, an aunt and family from Louisiana, and former pastor came from Missouri.

"This year is the 25th anniversary of the accident that took Lt. Williams and four others when their helicopter crashed Feb. 18, 1998, in California's Sequoia National Forest," Wilhour said earlier this year when he sponsored the resolution. "This memorial designation along Route 40 in St. Elmo between Route 128 and Avena Road helps to honor the service and sacrifice of Lt. Bruce Williams."

Williams was born to Melvin and Etherlyn Williams in St. Elmo on May 29, 1961, the youngest of three children. Williams graduated from St Elmo High School in 1979 and was a dedicated athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track. Williams was in the National Honor Society and the Industrial Art Club.

The resolution points out that Williams met his wife, Kathy, while stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and was the father of four children: Keith, Wyatt, Kelsey, and Logan. In addition to serving in the U.S. Navy in Pensacola and China Lake, Williams served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm as assistant to the commander of Mideast forces.

At the time of his death, Williams was survived by his parents, his wife, four children, his sister, Kay Roach, and his brother, David Williams.

A memorial service for Williams and the four other service members killed was held in the All Faith Chapel at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.