Dr.Cal Williams is a community activist and historian. Born in Monroe, Louisiana, he graduated college, served in the United States Air Force during the early 1960s, participated in the historic March on Washington, and was affiliated with the Congress of Racial Equality. In 1965, he moved to Alaska, seeking job opportunities, racial integration, and a better life. He has served as President of the Alaska Chapter of the NAACP, was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and ran for the Alaska House of Representatives. Cal served as the Filipino choir director at St. Anthonys, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at St. Patrick's, and American Legion Post 34 chaplain. He helped exhibit the late George Harper collection, documenting the history of African Americans in Alaska. Cal collaborated with UAA associate professor of history Ian Hartman, Ph.D., in writing Black Lives in Alaska: A History of African Americans in the Far Northwest and on many related presentations and events. For his invaluable contributions, UAA awarded Williams an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in fall 2022.