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Williams attended Davidson College, where he met his wife, [[Louise Harvin Williams|Louise Harvin]], a second-generation teacher, who was earning a degree in education at that point at Queens University of Charlotte. Louise, like her future husband, was a musician, playing the piano. While attending Davidson, Grier played in the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Charlotte Opera Orchestra. During the summer, he taught at the Transylvania Music Camp (now the Brevard Music Center).
After earning his bachelor degree of arts in music, Williams joined the Army for two years, playing in the Army Band and marrying Louise in the latter year. Grier then attended the University of Michigan, earning his masters. Afterwards, Williams earned a doctorate from Florida State University.
==Later Career==
Williams founded the [[UWF Music Department|Music Department]] of the nascent [[University of West Florida]] in [[19671968]] and helped it earn national accreditation in 1971. Williams retired as the Chairman of the Music Departmentin [[1992]]. The school was later renamed after Williams in 2020.
In [[1979]], he was asked to serve as interim music director and conductor of the [[Pensacola Symphony Orchestra]]. Under his leadership, the PSO broadened its repertoire, increased ticket sales, and moved its performance venue from the [[Pensacola High School]] auditorium to the newly-renovated [[Saenger Theatre]] in [[1982]].
He passed away on April 19, [[2004]] while recovering from a heart attack.
==References==