August 29, 1977

 
Dave Williams, 37, Promotion Manager of the WNDU Stations and producer of the award-winning television program "Beyond Our Control," died Saturday afternoon at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor following a brief illness and surgery.

Born June 4, 1940 in South Bend, Williams graduated from Central High School in 1958 and attended Indiana University of South Bend. He joined the WNDU Stations as a production assistant in 1960 and was appointed Promotion Manager in 1964.

He conceived the idea of "Beyond Our Control" in 1966 as a satirical look at the world of television, and, under the auspices of Junior Achievement, has produced the program with area high school students for the past ten years.

Under Williams' guidance, the show received national acclaim with articles in many newspapers and magazines, including an extensive spread in TV Guide. In 1973, the National Association of Television Program Executives named "Beyond Our Control" the nation's best locally-produced variety show. This year, the program captured one of thirty Broadcast Media Awards presented by the staff and students of San Francisco University and a Gold "Hugo," the top prize presented by the Chicago International Film Festival in its television category. "Beyond Our Control" also earned five awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for excellence in the field of Economics Education.

Friends may call at the Orvis-Palmer Funeral Home, 336 North Main Street, South Bend, Monday from 7 to 9 PM, and Tuesday from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home Wednesday at 11 AM.