Jimmy Williams is The St. Louis American’s 2024 Person of the Year

To watch James E. “Jimmy” Williams, Jr. navigate a room is a study in class, grace and poise. He moves with the swag of a politician and the refinement of an aristocrat; something that he acquired from his late father James E. Williams, Sr., the first African American mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois.

He is kind, humble, respectful, engaging and quick to impart wisdom and life lessons, particularly to youth and workers who are in awe of his success as the owner of 26 McDonald’s restaurants in the St. Louis metropolitan area, traits that he learned from his late mother, Lillian a beloved educator in the East St. Louis Public Schools.

And if the term “good corporate citizen” were a person, then Jimmy Williams would be straight out of Central Casting.

When asked, former East St. Louis mayor and funeral home owner, Carl E. Officer, said that, “I’ve always been impressed with James Williams, Jr. as a gentleman and a citizen of this community and am extremely proud to call him my friend.”

The operative word here is “friend.” Through his enterprising spirit, philosophy, corporate connections and philanthropy, Williams is known as a “friend” and benefactor to our region in a myriad of ways, since 1998 when he became a McDonald’s franchise owner with his first store in Granite City, Ill. 

Since that time, he’s managed to open 26 stores over a period of 26 years, an amazing feat; the significance not missed by him, particularly as an African-American entrepreneur, where representation matters, with some of his stores being located in urban communities and areas considered to be food deserts.

According to Williams, “We serve a significant part of the population, because I have so many stores and we serve as a gathering spot and it’s a privilege that we mean so much to so many people.” 

He went on to say that “We create a lot of jobs; about 1,300 jobs and we’ve turned serving meals into much more by supporting our community and being a force for good.”

That “good” comes in the form of Jimmy’s philanthropy; providing scholarships to his workers, mentoring young people in his hometown of East St. Louis and surrounding areas through his James E. Williams, Sr. Mentoring Program, in which soft skills, punctuality, goal setting and teamwork are imparted.

“Jimmy Williams follows in a long list of remarkable East St. Louis natives. He has continued on his life journey of service as a U.S. Navy pilot, a highly successful, enterprising and innovative businessman, civic leader and philanthropist,” said Donald Suggs. St. Louis American publisher and executive editor.

“Jimmy exemplifies the importance of hard work and steadfastness that are essential to build a business of scale.

“The American is particularly impressed with his pride in and loyalty to the community, including his family, that nurtured him and prepared him to be a huge success that he shares generally beyond his personal well-being.”

Williams serves on a multitude of community boards such as Ronald McDonald House, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, St. Patrick Center, 100 Black Men of St. Louis, The St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, The Nine Network and is involved with Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, to name a few.

Williams attributes his need to serve and the importance of education to his parents, as well as his mentors and childhood influences from East St. Louis. It drove him to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, as well as serve nine years with the U.S. Navy, where he logged over 2,000 flight hours in various countries around the world.

“My parents were so important to me and are the biggest reason that I am so passionate about small businesses, family and mentoring. Also, mentors like Dr. Ben Davis, a Black McDonald’s owner in East St. Louis, Marion E. Officer of Officer Funeral Home, politicians like Charles Merritts and Clyde C. Jordan taught me lessons about service. And the Navy reinforced those principles.”

James E. “Jimmy” Williams, Jr.

In terms of his “village”, Jimmy reflected that “What I really know is East St. Louis was, to me and others, what “The Ville” was to Blacks in St. Louis; full of Black-owned restaurants, night clubs, cafes, lawyer’s offices, funeral homes, Black teachers and others who cared about our success.”

However, he stated that his greatest accomplishments have been non-entrepreneurial; saying that “Having a positive impact while being true to himself and not selling his integrity,” as his father taught him were paramount.

Family is another of his greatest accomplishments. He glowingly said that meeting Janet (his wife) was a key to his success, as well having an amazing family, daughter Casi, son Tre and a new son-in-law and grandson are the greatest joys of his life.

Upon learning that he had been selected as Person of the Year, Jimmy humbly shared that “I was both surprised and honored, realizing that without this region I would be nobody. It also takes a team effort that is bigger than me. Winning and losing is a part of life and I accept them equally. But to be honored, given the previous list of distinguished honorees, is truly humbling and I thank everyone, including Dr. Donald Suggs.”

So, for his investment in the St. Louis metro region, his selflessness as a corporate citizen in elevating his village and larger community and paying it forward through his philanthropy, mentorship and exemplification of integrity and character, The St. Louis American celebrates Jimmy Williams as the 2024 Person of the Year.