Kim Williams
Encyclopedia
Kim Williams was an American naturalist, writer, and the longest-ever running guest commenter on NPR where she was a guest commentator on the radio show All Things Considered
for over ten and a half years.
and subsequently Cornell University
where she graduated with a degree in human ecology with a minor in botany.
After her graduation she took jobs at various publications such as the Los Angeles Examiner and Flower Grower magazine, it was also at this time that she started writing poetry and short prose based on personal experience. In 1951, she met and married her husband Mel Williams and then moved to Santiago, Chile
for twenty years. During her time in Chile, Williams wrote poems, plays, and short stories, she also wrote a newspaper column and taught English at the Catholic University of Chile. While in Chile she also and wrote and published her first two books, High Heels in the Andes and Wild Animals of Chile.
In 1971 she and her husband returned to the United States and settled in Missoula, Montana
where she would remain the rest of her life. Williams while living in Missoula returned to college and in 1981 received her masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Montana. Also while living in Missoula she published her final two books, Eating Wild Plants and Kim Williams' Book of Uncommon Sense: A Practical Guide With 10 Rules for Nearly Everything. In addition, she occasionally taught classes on edible wild plants at the University of Montana and wrote a newspaper column on wildflowers & plants for the Missoulian
which would lead to her getting a radio show on KUFM and subsequently a radio show on NPR where she had as many 2.5 million listeners.
Williams was elected in 1974 to serve on the City Government Study Commission in Missoula, and she also ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Montana House of Representatives
in 1978. In 1986 Williams announced on the radio program All Things Considered
three weeks before her death that she had terminal cancer and was refusing chemotherapy
. On July 16, 1986 on what would be her last radio broadcast she said to Susan Stamberg
co-host of All Things Considered that "I wish to die in peace, not in pieces." Her death was mourned and recognized thought the United States, with commentaries in The New York Times
, The New Yorker
, and numerous smaller newspapers. A trail along the Clark Fork River in Missoula was named in her memory in 1987. and the Kim Williams Graduate Fellowship was founded for journalism students at The University of Montana.
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
for over ten and a half years.
Biography
Kim Williams was born on September 21, 1923 as Elizabeth Ardea Kandiko as the fourth child (of seven) as the daughter of Hungarian immigrants. She grew up on a farm in the Gallatin Township in New York and attended and graduated from Hudson High SchoolHudson High School
Hudson High School can refer to:*Hudson High School *Hudson High School in Hudson, Iowa*Hudson High School in Hudson, Massachusetts*Hudson High School in Hudson, New York*Hudson High School...
and subsequently Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
where she graduated with a degree in human ecology with a minor in botany.
After her graduation she took jobs at various publications such as the Los Angeles Examiner and Flower Grower magazine, it was also at this time that she started writing poetry and short prose based on personal experience. In 1951, she met and married her husband Mel Williams and then moved to Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
for twenty years. During her time in Chile, Williams wrote poems, plays, and short stories, she also wrote a newspaper column and taught English at the Catholic University of Chile. While in Chile she also and wrote and published her first two books, High Heels in the Andes and Wild Animals of Chile.
In 1971 she and her husband returned to the United States and settled in Missoula, Montana
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
where she would remain the rest of her life. Williams while living in Missoula returned to college and in 1981 received her masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Montana. Also while living in Missoula she published her final two books, Eating Wild Plants and Kim Williams' Book of Uncommon Sense: A Practical Guide With 10 Rules for Nearly Everything. In addition, she occasionally taught classes on edible wild plants at the University of Montana and wrote a newspaper column on wildflowers & plants for the Missoulian
Missoulian
The Missoulian is a daily newspaper printed in Missoula, Montana. Its circulation is 34,855 on Sundays, 30,466 on weekdays. The newspaper is owned by Lee Enterprises. The Missoulian is the 2nd largest published newspaper in Montana, just behind the Billings Gazette...
which would lead to her getting a radio show on KUFM and subsequently a radio show on NPR where she had as many 2.5 million listeners.
Williams was elected in 1974 to serve on the City Government Study Commission in Missoula, and she also ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Montana House of Representatives
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
in 1978. In 1986 Williams announced on the radio program All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
three weeks before her death that she had terminal cancer and was refusing chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
. On July 16, 1986 on what would be her last radio broadcast she said to Susan Stamberg
Susan Stamberg
Susan Stamberg is an American radio journalist who is currently a Special Correspondent for National Public Radio and guest host for Weekend Edition Saturday.Stamberg was born in Newark, New Jersey...
co-host of All Things Considered that "I wish to die in peace, not in pieces." Her death was mourned and recognized thought the United States, with commentaries in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, and numerous smaller newspapers. A trail along the Clark Fork River in Missoula was named in her memory in 1987. and the Kim Williams Graduate Fellowship was founded for journalism students at The University of Montana.