Lyle Williams

Lyle Williams (August 23, 1942 – November 7, 2008) was an American politician who served three terms as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1979 to 1985.

Biography Williams was born in Philippi, West Virginia to Dale and Frankie (Ice) Williams. He attended the public schools of North Bloomfield, Ohio, graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1960. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1960 to 1968, and worked as a barber. He married Nancie Peterson in 1964 and had four children.

Political career Williams began his political career as a member of the Bloomfield school board from 1970 to 1972, before he was elected a Trumbull County Commissioner, serving from 1972 to 1976. He was elected a Republican to the Ninety-sixth Congress in 1978, narrowly defeating incumbent Democrat Charles J. Carney in a heavily Democratic working class district that included the industrial cities of Youngstown and Warren. He was reelected in 1980, defeating state Senator Harry Meshel, and in 1982 over George D. Tablack. He was defeated for reelection in 1984 by Mahoning County Sheriff James Traficant. but lost the Republican primary to Lake County Commissioner Robert Gardner. In 2000, Williams attempted a rematch against Traficant in the 17th District, but narrowly lost the Republican primary to Paul Alberty, Traficant's 1998 opponent. In Williams's final run for office, he ran for Ohio's 6th congressional district in 2002, intending to challenge Democratic Congressman Ted Strickland. However, he lost to Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck in the Republican primary by a wide margin.

Death Williams died of a heart attack in Lordstown, Ohio, on November 7, 2008.