There are some people who are key to industry transformation and growth, but many people don’t really know their name. The engineer in the background – the person who dreams about solving common problems and finds innovative solutions. The kind of person with sawdust in his blood. That describes Lonnie M Williams, co-founder of PRS Group and pallet machinery innovator, who passed away recently.
“My dad was always our guiding light, the chief behind the scenes, even in the later years, if there was a big decision, I leaned on him for guidance,” stated Jeff Williams, president of PRS Group. When ten years ago the Williams family looked at going into a business partnership with Spanish nailing machinery manufacturer, CAPE, Lonnie joined his son on tours of the CAPE factory and customer installations. Jeff remembered, “My dad’s input into all of that was really instrumental in us creating the partnership that we have today with CAPE.”
Lonnie Williams was the kind of person who his business was his hobby. Jeff laughing said, “My dad didn’t play golf or anything like that. Wood products and pallets have been his entire life.” He started in the wood sector in 1965 and did many things including wood panels, hardwood architectural flooring as well as a sawmill and pallets. Lonnie first developed machinery for his own pallet company and sawmill before launching PRS with Jeff in the late 1980s. Jeff recalled, “Over the years, he needed machines that didn’t exist. He was a very mechanically minded guy and would develop equipment based on his own needs.”
The first major equipment patent that Lonnie held was for the three-head, rotary dismantler. He obtained that patent in 1982. He also was a pioneer in the use of pallet plates to repair pallets. He developed a stringer splicing and plating machine that was an early big hit.
Jeff said, “My brother and I have run the business ever since the early 90s, but many of our initial pieces of equipment were his brain child.”
Lonnie M. Williams, 83, of Jacksonville, IL, died on Monday, November 4, 2024, at St. John’s Hospital. Jeff said, “My dad died peacefully surrounded by his family, and we appreciate the outpouring of support from many in the industry.”
Lonnie was born on October 13, 1941, in Bartley, MO, the son of Cecil and Pearl (Ingram) Williams. Lonnie married Carolyn R. Buguveski on January 15, 1966, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Springfield. Lonnie is survived by his wife, Carolyn Williams; sons, Jeff (Lori) Williams and Greg Williams; daughter, Andrea Williams; grandchildren, Gannon, Brock, Nina, and Nicole Williams, and Chloe and Caroline Martin; and brothers, Don (Sandy) Williams and Larry (Susan) Williams.
The obituary in The State Journal-Register noted, “Lonnie was extremely family-oriented and loved to socialize and travel. He was unique, outgoing, a jokester, and everybody’s friend. He never knew a stranger, was dedicated, generous, hard-working, loving, and was an inquisitive learner. Above all else, Lonnie was a wonderful husband, and an incredible father and grandfather.”
The staff of Pallet Enterprise salutes Lonnie Williams who made a huge mark in the pallet sector and was a true original. Memorial contributions may be made to: American Heart Association. People in the industry can share their condolences at https://www.sj-r.com/obituaries/pils0993440/memoryboard or reach out to the PRS team personally at info@prsgroupinc.com.
