James Hillard Williams

James “Smiley” Hillard Williams, age 76, passed away on November 17, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on September 10, 1947.

“Smiley” earned that nickname with his golden arm in baseball. He threw a 90 MPH fastball at the age of 12 and was a starting pitcher for the Southeast Optimist Little League team of Fort Worth. The team made it all the way to the championship game of the 1960 Little League World Series which, in fact, was the first Little League baseball game to be broadcast live on ABC’s Wide World of Sports! Unfortunately, the team was hit with the flu bug just before the championship game and lost, although many felt they would have won had they been healthy. To date, 63 years later, no other team from Fort Worth has made it to the championship game of the Little League World Series.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Smiley’s love for music playing drums in a garage band led to him playing at local night clubs and eventually even signing a recording contract with Columbia Records and touring the United States. It was an exciting life experience for Smiley as he met many recording artists and celebrities.

In 1980, he created and opened a little Mexican Food restaurant in west Fort Worth called Campo Verde. Then, in later years, he opened a second and much larger location in Dalworthington Gardens (Arlington) named LaCopa Campo Verde. Smiley turned the restaurant into a must-see Christmas Extravaganza and customers came from all around to see the décor.

After a 42-year run with Campo Verde, Smiley sold the restaurant in July 2022 and retired, hoping to spend more time in Lake City, Colorado, his beloved fly-fishing country. He went as often as he could and dearly loved his time there.

Smiley was known for his amazing talent, hilarious sense of humor and colorful stories. He was a great boss with a big heart. He loved his family, his employees, and life itself. James Smiley Williams always did it “My Way” with a smile…a smile that will live forever in our hearts.

James is survived by his wife of 25 years, Pamela Williams; daughter Scheri Hogan (husband Chris) of Arlington; son Tony Williams of Midland/Odessa; brother John Williams (wife Dolores) of Tucson, Arizona; sister Susie Williams Fitzgerald of Fort Worth, grandchildren Lars Hogan (wife Katie) of Arlington and Erik Hogan of Arlington; great-grandson Louie as well as many nieces and nephews.