The third principal of Williams, Cleet C. Cleetwood (1923–2007), a 1943 graduate of Appalachian State University, served an abbreviated administration from 1960 to 1962, at which time he was scheduled to be reassigned to the central office, but turned in his resignation instead (later serving as Superintendent of the Greenville City Schools system in Pitt County, c. 1971). At Appalachian, he had lettered "in football, basketball and baseball, (later) he was called into service with the U.S. Air Force, serving during World War II as a B-17 navigator. He enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his master's degree and lettered in varsity baseball. Prior to coming to Williams, he had begun his career in education coaching football, basketball and baseball at Rocky Mount High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Following a period of playing professional baseball, he began work at Duke University toward his doctoral degree." (http://www.thepilot.com/stories/20070529/news/obits/20070529Cleetwood.html). Even into his late 70s, he played basketball with the state senior games ("The Pilot", January 30, 2000).