Carroll B. Williams Jr.

Carroll Burns Williams Jr. (September 24, 1929 – March 1, 2024) was an American research forester and entomologist. He was the first African American scientist hired by the United States Forest Service and the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in forestry and entomology. He produced pioneering research on pesticide use in forests and insect-host relationships, including bark beetles, spruce budworms and other invasive species. He was initially denied admission to the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, but appealed the decision after he discovered that a white student with lower grades had been accepted. He was subsequently admitted “with apologies.”

Williams' freshman year coincided with the start to the Korean War. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, becoming one of the first African American soldiers to serve in an integrated unit. At college, Williams was elected to the student council and was a member of the Society of Les Voyageurs. His studies concerning spruce budworms contributed to the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of alternatives to DDT against the pest.

In 1968, Williams was assigned to New Haven, Connecticut to study the invasive bark beetle. He went on to lead projects on integrated pest management principles in forest systems until his retirement from the Forest Service in 1988.

He was the father of three children, including screenwriter and author Maiya Williams.