Rear Adm. Joseph Williams Jr.

Retired Rear Adm. Joseph Williams Jr., the first recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in San Diego and of the Southern California Chamber of Commerce Fundraiser of the Year Award, died Friday of pancreatic cancer. He was 74.

Williams, a 16-year resident of San Diego, was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Williams was a Navy submariner for 44 years. Among his many decorations were the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation and 11 Legions of Merit.

Madeleine Williams, his wife of 48 years, said he “put his heart and soul into his community. He was always the kind of person who, if you asked him could he do something, he would always do it.”

Williams said that in November, 1972, her husband helped the San Diego Zoo obtain a bear from Alaska by arranging for transport on a military plane.

Williams was born in Illinois in June, 1911, and graduated in 1933 from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also served as president of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club and the Los Ancianos Club.

He is survived by his wife; a son, Clark Williams of South Carolina, and a daughter, Alexandria Schultes of Del Mar.

There will be a private military burial at Fort Rosecrans on Friday morning.