Captain Thomas “Mad Dog” R. Williams January 13, 1950 ~ March 5, 2022 died in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by his family.
Tom was born to Richard and Theresa Williams in Highland Park, MI. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1972 and joined the U.S. Navy. He graduated from BUD/S on October 31, 1975. During his 31 years of service, he was the Commanding Officer of Seal Team Two, the Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group 2, and served as the Navy Seal Liaison Officer to the Joint Special Operations Command. He then retired and became “Paw”. He continued to work as a private contractor up until days prior to his death.
Tom was a very humble man who lived to take care of his family and friends. His personal integrity in his personal and professional life was second to none. He enjoyed reading, mountain biking, cross country skiing, canoeing, and taking long hikes in Yellow Fork Canyon with his favorite dog, Steamboat. Tom truly lived a life of love for God and country. He was a faithful Catholic, a loving husband, a dependable father, and a joyful grandfather.
Tom is survived by his wife, Terri, of 36 years, his step-mother; Joanne, his siblings; Connie and Rick, his children; Salli and Greg, daughter in law; Dulce, his grandsons; Colby, Victor, and Mateo, and his nephew; Chris. He was preceded in death by his parents, nephew, Justin, and grandson, Tomas.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 18, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens located at 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy UT 84092. An interment will follow the service, as well as, a reception.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Navy Seal Foundation, https://impact.navysealfoundation.org/give/305562/#!/donation/checkout or the Utah Veterans Alliance, https://4rutvets.org/donations/donate/ .
To watch the COMPLETED services via Zoom click the "Watch Services" button or use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/_u-XddDoTyVsv8E39fXOBusf7whRkzWjfAcTMZ1HOpJpbVOvymf52k5yoK1m72gf.-mTXxGswWOxtQeie?startTime=1647633873000
Mad Dog was the greatest Commanding Officer I ever had. He was a great leader and mentor. I was one of his minions at SEAL Team 2 when he was Commanding there. I have a picture of him giving me an award from Desert Storm at ST-2. His memory lives on with me forever. HOO YAA Mad Dog!
Tom was such a wonderful friend in our little community up here in High Country 2! He was always friendly and would help anyone. I used to try and bring the neighbors cans in before he could, but Tom was always on top of that. He had a good head on his shoulders, and I'll miss chatting with him. I feel fortunate to have known Tom! Peace to The Williams Family!
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of Tom. He was a great man/neighbor for many years. Prayers to you all at this time.
Teri, Greg and Dulce and all your family, I am so sorry for your loss. you are all in my prayers. God Bless.
Miss you all
Tom was such a wonderful person and it was a privilege to know him and work with him. He will sorely missed.
Respect and Honor
Rest In Peace brave warrior
You will never be forgotten
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
What is there to say but that we loved and still love Tom. He went from being our neighbor to being our friend and boy, did we ever cherish that friendship. It's typical of Tom that he would cross the Rainbow Bridge first and make a beachhead for the rest of us. I can't wait to greet him on the other side, to give him a big hug, and to tell him how much we love him. Rest in peace dear friend until we meet again.
What is there to say but that we loved and still love Tom. He went from being our neighbor to being our friend and boy, did we ever cherish that friendship. It's typical of Tom that he would cross the Rainbow Bridge first and make a beachhead for the rest of us. I can't wait to greet him on the other side, to give him a big hug, and to tell him how much we love him. Rest in peace dear friend until we meet again.
Rip Tom. Love you Becky.
So sorry about your loss! Tom was always great to my mom!
Greg Childs
Just received this news this morning from another SEAL teammate of my husband. My husband was at SEAL TEAM TWO when Tom became CO and I was the Command Ombudsman. I spent the next two years working with Tom as a liaison between command and our families. Tom and Terri both were incredibly committed to making sure everyone under his watch felt he had their backs and more importantly they cared. We are heartbroken to hear of his passing, he was one of the best and we are better having know him. Our deepest sympathies and love to Terri and family.
As a young officer, Captain Williams was an inspiration to me. His drive, dedication, and love of country and family were examples that I tried to emulate in my career and, more importantly, in my life. He was truly a "Good Man" and will be missed. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment and selfless service that carries on through others.
God Bless him and watch over his family during these time. I know he is watching over us all.
Respectfully,
Jim
So sorry. He was a good man.
Dearest Terri
Words, thoughts or intensions never seem to fully express our feelings and
love for one another. Tom was a good man
to his family and his country, deserving our utmost respect. Be proud as he is honored. We love you. Alice Mae
CAPT Williams was a mentor to me as a young NCO and Officer. As his SJS, while he was Chief of Staff, we shared many hours of staff guidance, leadership and strategy. I have enjoy a blessed future and he was one of the mentors that helped shape it for me. RIP Sir!
Tom was one of the most professional SEALs I ever knew. He was always about the SEAL in the field - how to make his gear better, how to make him better. But even more importantly he was a very nice man. He was one of the best men I knew and I'm sorry that he passed away without one more discussion with him.
I just received the UDT/SEAL Association Bereavement Announcement in my morning traffic. My wife Regina and I offer our sincere condolences to CAPT Williams' family and friends. I was just commenting to my coworkers yesterday that there have been too many announcements of great leaders passing from the Naval Special Warfare Wardroom this year. This man tops that list for me. In my 39th year of Navy/DoD Civilian service, I've yet to see another leader who better epitomizes the concepts of the "Quiet Professional" and "Servant Leader". Long before the Special Operations community coined the term "Preservation of the Force and Family", "Mad Dog" made the Teams and our families Priority Number One. I was blessed as a SEAL Junior Officer to have him as my "Skipper" at SEAL Team TWO and then my Commodore at Naval Special Warfare Group TWO. "HOOYAH!" Mad Dog.
Dear Williams Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Captain (ret) "Mad Dog" Williams made such a tremendous difference in so many lives. The best mentors are those that don't even know they are mentoring you! "Mad Dog" mentored me over the course of almost five years and countless planning events and joint force exercises. I observed him taking advantage of every "teachable moment," encouraging junior and senior officers and enlisted sailors without ever once being the slightest bit condescending. He always lent me a helping hand and sage advice and I will be forever grateful. I feel so blessed to have known him. "Mad Dog" you will be missed. Sincerely, "J9" Ehret
Sending love, thoughts, and prayers to you and your family during this time. Tom will be missed by all who knew him. I am grateful to have known him as a colleague. He was a wonderful person. 🙏🇺🇸💜
DearTerri, Salli, Greg, & family,
We were very saddened to hear of Tom’s passing. He was so accomplished in his years of service to our country and a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. We feel very fortunate to have had your family as our neighbors and friends. Our hearts are with you in the difficult days ahead. Love, Denny & Cindy Ambrose
To the Friends and Family of Capt. Williams,
On behalf of the over 800 JSOA members, I send heartfelt condolence to all. The passing of a great American leaves a hole in every veteran's heart and our Nation's fabric. We wish you all God's speed.
Rest in Peace, Mad Dog!
Kindest regards,
Ron
Ron Haynes
President
Joint Special Operations Association
Teri and the Williams family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the good fortune of working with Mad dog on several different occasions. He was my CO, my Commodore, and my Chief of Staff at various commands. I admire him as an officer, yet I admire him more for the man he is. He taught me a great deal. As a matter fact he taught me the meaning of the term “leadership challenge”. I will miss him. I’m a better man for knowing him. Please accept my heartfelt condolences in this trying time. 🙏🏼🤗⚓️🇺🇸
Blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Tom. Always the consummate professional and gentleman. He was such a positive influence on so many lives. Bravo Zulu Brother Tom.
Another Eagle has ascended into heaven. Tom's wit and humor always made me laugh. Also, his tenacity when he was our COS in the late 90's and as a fellow contractor inspired many of us to do better in every aspect of our lives. Miss you my friend!!!
Sending my thoughts and prayers to the family of Tom Williams. I have only known Tom a few months. We had been doing Bible study with a group at St. Andrews Catholic Church. I - we all enjoyed his knowledge and passion that he shared. Today we found out he passed and we’re all so shocked and saddened. RIP Tom you will be sorely missed. God bless you! 🙏❤️
May He rest in eternal peace in "Frogman Heaven:"
See ya on the other side Brother. HooYah!
Doc Rio
Ret. ST-2 1970
To the family of Captain Williams, I offer my most sincere condolences to the loss of your loved one, he was an amazing leader, mentor, and great American! I first met "Mad Dog" when he led a team of joint special operators on a very politically sensitive mission to Europe and he became one of my most treasured leaders and mentors I had over 30 years of service. I saw him occasionally after we both retired and he served our nation until the very end. I hope you can take some solace in the fact that he touched so many across so many military services and commands. I am very saddened by this news but grateful that I was able to serve and work with him. May God Bless him and you all. Colonel Edward "Otto" Pernotto, US Air Force Reserve (Ret.)
My heartfelt condolences to the family. May the Holy Spirit surround you and comfort you in the days ahead. — St Andrew parishioner
My thoughts and prayers are with your family Tom. I was saddened to hear of your passing. I have only known Tom for a few months through Bible Study, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church. I learned alot from him. He was a knowledgeable man. May he rest in God's loving arms. ❤️ 🙏❤🙏
My thoughts and prayers are with your entire family. It is a most difficult time but may his wonderful memories comfort you. I had the opportunity to know Tom at St. Andrews, his spirit of gratitude, I generosity, integrity and caring identified him as a remarkable man. In Bible study he always amazed us with his keen knowledge and added a wealth of information to our discussions. He was a significant member of our parish and he will be missed. A Mass will be offered the repose of his soul.
Terri, Sally, Greg, & family,
Sue , Bryceleigh, & I send our sincere condolences to you at this time. You have our deepest sympathy & unwavering support. Praying for peace, comfort ,courage, & lots of love at this time of sorrow. Our heart goes out to all of you during these extremely difficult times.
We were so fortunate to have you as neighbors over the years & want you to know how much we appreciated Tom for his sincere dedication & service to our country so all of us could enjoy the freedoms we have . I was never in the military, but have/had the utmost respect for all who give/gave so much of themselves so we could /can enjoy our freedoms. Tom was what I call, "a real hero!"
May God add His richest blessings & peace far beyond our comprehension to all of your family!
Tom was a man of few words. He always seemed to be at work underground, shoring up foundations that most of us take for granted. He was our Water Master here in High Country, a thankless job on a system serving over five hundred vertical feet, not designed to take those pressures. I remember seeing him standing in the rain and mud as Van excavated yet another burst pipe at the bottom of Shaggy Mtn. Rd. He did for free what we’ve since contracted Herriman to do in exchange for our water right, worth millions. To enlist in in the military in 1972 showed he had faith in our institutions and our country at a time when others were questioning that faith, when there wouldn’t be a lot of gratitude coming his way; and when he would be putting his life on the line. It seems everything he did was shoring up our taken for granted foundations; on the High Country board, in the military, in Bible study - working on our hidden infrastructure for water, freedom, and God. I keep thinking about his summary report at the last homeowner association annual meeting. He ended with, “This concludes my brief”. He will be missed, both in his person, by those who knew him, and in his works by those who took him for granted. My condolences to Terri and family.