A Tribute to Norman Williams

Abstract

In March 1991, a group gathered in Chicago to assess the updating of America's land-use statutes. The attendees' roster resembled what might be a who's who list in American land-use law and planning, including Norman Williams, AICP. At this meeting, attorney Dwight Merriam, AlCP, confessed, “Norman Williams is my hero.” Earlier this year, Vermont Law School, where Williams teaches, held a “Festschrift” honoring Professor Williams and his scholarship. At this event, it became obvious that Merriam's sentiments are shared by a wide group of persons who play a variety of roles in our society-planners, lawyers, professors, law school deans, developers, architects, environmentalists, elected officials, and even students-to whom he still assigns massive readings.