History
The company began operations in May of 1861 as a small paper merchant located on the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis. John R. Williams and Melville C. Libby formed a corporation to "deal in and buy and sell paper stock of all kinds and such other merchandise as may be found expedient and to manufacture all articles of every kind made of paper or paper stock and deal in and sell the same". This business description from the original articles of incorporation remains fairly consistent with the mission of the company today.
In the early 1920's J.R. Williams handed the reins of the corporation over to his son Richard N. Williams. Richard moved to a new 10,000 square foot facility still on the riverfront on First Street in what is today known as Laclede's Landing. He expanded the operation to include paper converting operations like sheeting and rewinding as well as the sale of industrial paper grades. In the 1950's Richard included his three sons Jim, Bob and Dick in the business.
In the late 1970's the three sons expanded the business into different areas with the Paper component remaining under the control of Richard "Dick" N. Williams, Jr. who became his father's successor in the paper business. Dick expanded the business in 1985 to a 50,000 square foot facility on 15th Street in St. Louis. He expanded again in 1996 by bringing the company to its present day 150,000 square foot facility location on Union Blvd. in St. Louis. Dick also introduced the company to a new market that of precision sheeted SBS.
Though he has stepped away from day to day operations Dick continues to promote the "family owned and operated" practice. His son in law Chris Young currently runs the business as the general manager and his son Nels and Daughter Angie are active in all facets of the business.
