Ron Williams ’80 grew up in the thick of America’s space race, a scrappy Philadelphia kid captivated by astronauts and space. He vividly remembers the first humans launched into space in 1961, President John F. Kennedy’s moonshot challenge, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon in 1969.
Years later, Williams would join NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, ultimately becoming a contract manager overseeing hundreds of workers and multimillion-dollar budgets. But first, he needed a college degree.
He had never set foot outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, except for a summer in Alabama with his father. Raised by a hardworking single mom, he knew only one path: earning a living as soon as he finished high school. After working at a cardboard box factory for two years, he realized he wanted more.
By then Williams was married, so he looked for a way to attend college while working in a space-related field. He applied to NMSU and to a cooperative program at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility.
Before stepping 2,000 miles outside his comfort zone, Williams called NMSU with a series of offbeat questions for the admissions office. Staff gathered around the speakerphone to hear what he would ask next. His curiosity led to a warm welcome, and when he arrived on campus, the NMSU admissions staff applauded as he walked in.
Williams cherished his time in Las Cruces, attending classes, studying hard and tutoring to help pay the bills.
“I love the school; I love Las Cruces. To go from dirty, crowded, noisy Philadelphia to wide open spaces was wonderful,” he says.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and since the White Sands Test Facility didn’t have any open positions, joined the facilities division at the Johnson Space Center. Over his 30-year career, he earned a reputation as the go-to guy, stepping in to complete several of his division’s important projects.
After retiring in 2010, Williams pursued his lifelong dream of writing. Inspired by a passage in the Book of Revelation, he published his debut novel, “Trojan,” in 2023. The novel is a page-turning sci-fi thriller set in Las Cruces and filled with nods to the place that changed his life. In April 2025, he traveled to Las Cruces for a book signing at COAS Books.
But retirement brought a new challenge: his wife Beverly’s dementia. To ensure she received the best care, Williams set aside funds through certificates of deposit. Not sure what to do with the savings after her death in 2024, he consulted with the NMSU Foundation. There, he learned he could name the NMSU Foundation as beneficiary of the CDs upon his own death. Williams has specified the proceeds to benefit the College of Engineering and turn his savings into a legacy.
“NMSU made such a difference in my life that I knew I had to give back and support students facing the same challenges I did,” Williams says.
He is now a member of the 1888 Society, which recognizes alumni and friends who have committed gifts through a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan or other estate arrangement.
Like a rocket returning to launch position, he is determined to empower aspiring engineers to push boundaries and expand our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
To learn how you can make NMSU the beneficiary of your financial and retirement accounts, insurance policy or commercial annuity, contact
plannedgiving@nmsufoundation.org.
Ron Williams has used his experiences as a contract manager for NASA, along with his love of space, to write the sci-fi thriller “Trojan.” He is also a proud member of the 1888 Society, making a heartfelt contribution that will one day benefit College of Engineering students.
Dove Hall, Room 212
305 N. Horseshoe Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88003
