Charles Addison Williams

Charles Addison “Tad” Williams Jr. was born on March 11, 1941 and passed away on Nov. 24, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his daughter, Robin Williams of CA; his brother, Terrance Williams of Los Angeles, CA; sisters Damires Johnson of CO and Dexter Dopherpul of CA. He is also survived by his beloved friend and partner Diane Burns of El Monte, CA. Tad grew up at his family’s Arroyo Seco Stables in South Pasadena , where he developed a lifelong love of horses. He was a longtime member of Equestrian Trails International (ETI) Corral 22. On July 12, 2008 he was honored for his contributions to maintaining area horse trails and a section of the trail in the lower arroyo, the Tad Williams Trail was dedicated in his name (http://corral22.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Aug_Sep_08.305152325.pdf). According to the ETI website: “On a bright, sunny, Saturday morning perhaps 50 or more friends met to honor Tad Williams. In the lower Arroyo, the City of Pasadena presented him with a replica of two bronze plaques which will be mounted in two locations marking the “Tad” Williams Trail . … (He was presented) with a commendation certificate from Supervisor Mike Antonovich, as well as a T-shirt and La Canada Flintridge Trails Council logos. “Tad, owner of an excavating and construction business (Tadco), at his own initiative and expense, moved the trail from under the old Colorado Street Bridge out of the flood plain. Winter storms often made the trail impossible to riders and hikers. His construction made the trails useable all year round and it remains an important link of the north and south Arroyo areas. “Tad is a long-time equestrian and still rides his quarter horse. He and his brother, Terry and his sisters Dexter and Dammy had the whole arroyo as their backyard while growing up. The property was purchased in 1905. His parents founded the Arroyo Stables in 1920. Terry still operates it today. …Truly they were and are an equestrian family.