C. Warner Williams - The Artist

April 23, 1903 - Aug. 3, 1982 

Warner Williams, CMA Artist, Retiring
Unknown source,
18 May, 1968

The faculty of Culver Military Academy will attend a recognition banquet Monday in honor of Warner Williams, artist-in-residence, who is retiring after 28 years of service.

Williams created both the Indiana Sesquicentennial Medallion and the medal marking the fiftieth running of the Indianapolis 500. Sales of these medals have surpasses the $500,000 mark. Although he seldom enters competitions, he was invited and paid for His entry in the Sesquicentennial Medallion competition. He enters most of his work in exhibitions.



Williams was given complete freedom in the design of the state medal, but the committee replaced his reverse design with the state seal in holding with state pride and some precedent. The observe, or front, side of the medal illustrated a Hoosier log cabin with beams radiating from it to towering representations of agricultural, industrial and commercial growth.



Speedway officials decided that they could have their own medallion after they saw the state medal Williams was commissioned to create a design which reflected the progress seen throughout the years at the Speedway. He contrasted the Marmon Wasp, winner of the first race, and the old Pagoda with a new rear-engine car and the new Tower. Demand exceeded supply of models on sale at the fiftieth Memorial Day Classic.

In designing both medals, Willliams found the concept of evolution to be the most interesting lead in his research. He believes that his form of art is more absolute than a question of the period of time which it represents. "If the design in an interpretation of fundamental laws, it is timeless. It has perpetual value, even though it may have periodic characteristics."

His work has ranged in emphasis from children to great men to evolution. Much of his work today is commissioned by education institutions.

Some of his more famous commissions include bas-relief of John F. Kennedy, Leopold Stokowski, Thomas Edison, George Ade, John T. MeCutcheon, Pope Paul XXIII, Knute Rockne, and Stan Musial.

He plans to design a series of modernistic animal studies and large reliefs of famous musicians scientists, religious leaders and great men of the ages.

Much of the work will be done in a geodesic dome, a structure 44 feet in diameter which he built next to his home. Williams was a free lance sculptor - designer in Chicago before he became associated with Culver in 1940. He has done portraiture work in addition to supervising the art program at the Academy. He teaches winter and summer students in art technique, design and appreciation.

Born In Henderson, Kentucky, William attended Berea, (Ky) College, Butler University, IndianapoIis, Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis and the Chicago Art Institute. He was graduated with honors in art history and appreciation from the Chicago Art Institute and received scholarships from three other schools

His sons, Earle and David, are students at Culver Military Academy, and he has a daughter, Sylvia, 13, at home and an older daughter [sic son] Carroll.