City Auditor Jim Williamson lost his battle with cancer at his home on February 3 at the age of 61.
Jim’s career with the City spanned 33-years. He was hired as a senior auditor in Sept. 1988. Jim was promoted to audit manager in 1994, assistant auditor in 2000, and was named City auditor in Sept. 2008, following the retirement of Susan Citty. He is one of only a few City employees who report directly to City Council.
“Jim was a uniquely decent and hard-working public servant,” said Mayor David Holt. He fulfilled a critical role on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City with the honesty, diligence, and transparency we would all hope for. On behalf of the Council and the people of Oklahoma City, I send his family our deepest condolences. They will be in our thoughts and prayers. Jim will be sorely missed at City Hall and in our community.
Jim recently received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) for making lasting and worthwhile contributions to local government auditing through his service to ALGA.
Jim led many groundbreaking audits that significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of City operations during his long tenure in the City Auditor’s Office. The impact of those audits ranged from increased City sales tax collections to improved efficiency of day-to-day services provided by City departments.
“Jim was a great City Auditor and coworker and was an even better friend,” said City Manager Craig Freeman. “Professionally he was a man of integrity, had a deep knowledge of auditing practices, and was always working to make things better. We are better as an organization because of his years of service and leadership in the City Auditor’s Office. Personally, he was kind, trustworthy and always supportive. He will be missed.”
Jim is survived by his wife, Susan and two adult daughters, JuliAnne Williamson and Ashlee Williamson.