| Richard J. Williard | |
| Birth Name: | Richard James Williard |
| Birth Date: | 25 July 1911 |
| Birth Place: | Oakland, California |
| Death Place: | Concord, California |
| Occupation: | Federal Bureau of Prisons administrator |
| Known For: | Associate Warden, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary (1962 - 63) |
Richard James Williard (July 25, 1911 - September 23, 2006) was an American prison administrator. He was born to Samuel A. Williard and Adah Nordlund in Oakland, California, 1911.[1]
Williard began work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons around 1938.[2] During the course of his career, he served as Captain of the Guards at both McNeil Island[2] and Atlanta Penitentiaries,[3] [2] as well as Associate Warden at the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island.[4] He was the last Associate Warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary under Olin G. Blackwell, replacing Arthur M. Dollison in December, 1962[5] and staying until the institution closed on March 21, 1963. Following the closure of the penitentiary, he had served as a caretaker of the island. While a caretaker, he had dealt with a brief invasion of Sioux Indians in March 1964. In October 1964, Williard took a position as Warden of the Oregon State Correctional Institution,[6] a position he held until he resigned in 1967.
He died September 23, 2006, in Concord, California.