It is with a heavy heart that we share that Ronald W. Williams, one of the community leaders credited with moving Children’s Hospital Colorado to the Anschutz Medical Campus, passed away.

Ron was a respected business leader in Colorado and was honored throughout his lifetime for his philanthropic generosity and board service. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gary-Williams Company.

Ron served on Children’s Hospital Colorado Board of Directors from 1989-2001 and on the Foundation Board of Trustees from 2001-2022. He was instrumental in the decision to move Children’s Hospital Colorado to the Anschutz Medical Campus and co-chaired the Foundation’s “Imagine the Miracles” capital campaign that successfully secured private funding for the campus’ new state-of-the-art hospital. Ron’s bold leadership during this pivotal moment in Children’s Colorado’s history will not be forgotten. He was named a Lifetime Director in 2008 and Trustee Emeritus in 2022 to recognize his extraordinary contributions.

From small beginnings in Nebraska, Ron worked hard to become a recognized leader in the oil industry. He was honored in the Colorado Business Hall of Fame and was a member and treasurer of the Executive Committee of the National Western since 2004 and served as Chairman of the National Western Stock Show Board of Directors.

Ron was named the Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show in 2022, which recognizes “those who embody Western pioneers’ spirit and determination and perpetuate their agricultural heritage and ideals, and he was certainly worthy of that prestigious recognition.”

Ron also served for a decade on the Denver Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, as well as on the board of the University of Colorado Hospital and was a member of the Colorado Forum.

Ron understood that strong executives need flexible funding to implement their leadership strategies, which is why he and his wife established the Cille B. and Ronald W. Williams Endowed Chair in Executive Leadership at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The Chair is a unique role currently held by Children’s Colorado’s President and CEO Jena Hausmann.

“As a community leader, philanthropist, mentor, friend, and someone who loved Children’s Colorado, Ron holds a special place in my heart,” Jena said. “I treasure the confidence he had in me, and I carry forward the strength and bold vision he had for this beloved institution.”

Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation