James E. Williams (Atlanta mayor)

James E. Williams served as the 44th mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from 1962 to 1969. His tenure occurred during a period of significant change in the city, marked by continued growth and the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. Williams, a white moderate, focused on continued economic development and infrastructure improvements. He oversaw the construction of Interstate 285 (the Perimeter) and the development of the Atlanta Arts Center (now Woodruff Arts Center). While considered relatively progressive for his time and region, particularly in terms of maintaining order during civil rights protests and working towards peaceful integration, his approach was sometimes criticized by activists for not being proactive enough in addressing systemic inequalities. He was succeeded by Sam Massell, Atlanta's first Jewish mayor.