The $5 million William Denison Williams left to Union College has begun to bear fruit.
Three professors were recently named to professorships endowed by the gift. Hans-Friedrich O. Mueller was named the William D. Williams Professor of Classics; William Zwicker was named the William D. Williams Professor of Mathematics; and Robert B. Baker was named the William D. Williams Professor of Philosophy.
Williams, who died in October, left a quarter of his $20 million estate to Union.
That's a lot more than the school was counting on — Williams had given small sums during his life, but the school had no idea he had the ability to be so generous.
The gift will also be used to help renovate Butterfield Hall, the school's engineering building.