Max Williams

Dallas entrepreneur, oilman and basketball legend, Max Williams, 86, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2025, surrounded by his wife and children.

Clarence Max Williams

Max Williams was born February 28, 1938, in Vernon, Texas, to Claude and Willie Mae (Chambers) Williams. Max was 18 months old when he and his family moved to Avoca, Texas, and lived in a Humble Oil and Refining Company camp. His father worked for Humble, and his mother stayed at home with the children. According to his sister, Theresa, Max was a smiling little boy with a dash of mischievousness. He liked to play tricks on people, tell jokes, and play games.  Max’s family moved to Guthrie, Texas in 1946, and as a third grader at Guthrie school he played on the high school basketball team, dribbling between players’ legs, and scoring baskets. He was never without some kind of ball in his hand. He played outdoors every waking moment. In 1947 the Williams Family moved back to the Humble camp and Max started his fourth-grade school year at Avoca.  Max’s dad died from lung cancer in March 1951, when Max was 13. After his father’s death, Max, his sister, and his mom moved from the Humble camp into the little town of Avoca and basketball became his passion.

He was the first high school player in Texas history to make the all-state team three years in a row and is widely credited as the first player to use the behind-the-back dribble. During his high school career, he led Avoca to a 44-1 record and made the all-tournament team in every tournament that Avoca entered. In 1955 he scored 1,264 points and led Avoca to the Class B state title over Big Sandy. He also earned MVP honors at the 1956 THSCA All-Star Game and made the All-American team. Williams left the high school ranks as the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,360 points, the longest-standing scoring record of Texas Top 10 High School Scoring Records of All Time.

In 1956, Williams joined Southern Methodist University on an athletic scholarship. At SMU, Williams started playing basketball as part of their freshmen team before joining the SMU Mustangs men's basketball team in 1957. During his time at SMU, Williams held the free throw percentage season record for the University in 1958 and 1960. He made the All-Southwest Conference basketball team in 1960. After his 73 games with the men's team, Williams accumulated 845 assists and 295 rebounds as part of his 940 points.

Max met his bride of 64 years, Carolyn, at SMU. He invited her to lunch, and they’ve been together ever since.  Married in 1960, together they raised 2 children, Wayne and Laura, and they have 11 grandkids and 4 great grandchildren.

After college, he thought his basketball days were behind him. The NBA had just eight teams. He sold insurance until Jim Hammond called with an interesting update. There were plans being talked about to bring a new basketball league to Dallas. The buy-in was $300,000, and in two days, Max managed to round up 30 investors as an ownership group and helped organize the creation of the Dallas Chaparrals. He became the team's general manager from 1967-71. During his time as general manager, Williams also took over as the Chaparrals’ head coach when Cliff Hagan resigned in 1970. Though the Chaparrals usually made the playoffs, the team was sold to San Antonio and became the Spurs, eventually being absorbed into the NBA.  But his pioneering contributions were remembered by the Spurs after they won their second NBA Championship in 2003, as the team crafted a special championship ring for him with the Chaparrals logo on one side and the Spurs logo on the other.

Max was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame and was chosen as one of the 100 greatest high school basketball players in UIL history.

After leaving the Chaparrals, Williams stayed active and traveled the world hunting and fishing, playing tournament tennis around Texas and golf at Preston Trails making life-long friends at every turn.  He worked commercial real estate and became the leading commercial real estate salesman in Dallas.  By 1975, he formed U S Resources drilling Austin Chalk wells and is credited with discovering the Giddings Field which was the largest oilfield discovery in the nation in over 50 years.

Through all this, he remained a kind and considerate man who always put family first.  Virtually every Tuesday night for more than 15 years, Max and Carolyn invited all the family over for dinner at their house.  There were some nights with more than 20 people-aunts, uncles, cousins and all.  On those nights, a smile never left his face! Max was a mentor and a great friend to many. He set a standard of humility, integrity, honesty, strength, grace and love that will continue to guide the lives he touched.

Max Williams is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Carolyn Cooper Williams, his children, Wayne Williams and his wife Laura Williams, Laura Baynham and her husband Matt Baynham. Grandchildren, Matt Williams and his wife Loren, Ryan Williams, Jacob Baynham and his wife, Megan, Max Aills, Scotty Williams, Ashley Aills, Mary Katherine Baynham Suggs and her husband Connor, Payne Reese and his wife Cameron, Myka Baynham, Kelty Baynham Sullivan and her husband, Anthony, and Gage Reese. And great grandchildren Cole Williams, Crew Williams, Lyla Baynham and Hunter Suggs. Nieces, Caron Turner Sansing and her husband Billy, Lisa Turner Frierson and her husband Nathan, and their families. The family also wants to thank Irene Nava and her children, Bella and Elias and their families for all their love and care. Max was preceded in death by his father, Claude and mother, Willie Mae, his cherished sister Theresa Turner and her husband Don, and brother Marvin Jay.

The family will gather at the church from 12:00 p.m. till service time to greet guest. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 4 at 1:00 at Avoca Methodist Church, 10820 County Road 604, Avoca, TX 79503, with Dennis Huffaker officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Creek Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home in Stamford, TX.

A Celebration of Max Williams’ Life will be held Tuesday, February 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Lovers Lane Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75220.