 Lance Williams to Receive Steven A. Coons Award for Outstanding
Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics from ACM SIGGRAPH.
ACM SIGGRAPH is presenting Lance Williams with the Steven A. Coons Award for Outstanding
Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics. Williams will receive his award this summer
at SIGGRAPH 2001, 12 - 17 August 2001, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Williams is being recognized for his fundamental and far reaching technical ideas, his
pioneering artistic contributions to the field, and his generous and unflagging mentorship
to many of the leading lights in computer graphics research today.
"Through his ideas, his artistry, and his humanity, Lance Williams has made a lasting
impact on computer graphics, both as a discipline and as a community," said Ed
Catmull, ACM SIGGRAPH Awards Chair. "We hope that by awarding him the highest honor
ACM SIGGRAPH can bestow, Williams' song will finally be sung."
Like many pioneers, Williams began his career in computer graphics at the University of
Utah in the early 70s. Unlike many others, he joined the graduate computer science program
there holding a degree in English from Kansas University. Even so, he quickly established
himself at Utah as one of the leading thinkers. Many would seek out Williams to discuss
new ideas, as he would never fail to be stimulating and creative. After working on 2D and
3D animation systems, Williams left Utah to join the New York Institute of Technology in
1974. During that time many of his fundamental technical contributions appeared: mip
mapping, shadow buffers, facial animation by image warping, and new techniques for
antialiasing.
His artistic contributions at NYIT have a central place in the history of computer
graphics. He contributed to "Sunstone," and he created "the Works,"two
of the most important and memorable computer graphics films ever made. In 1987, Williams
joined Apple ATG's research group. His influence in this group is legendary, and his
accomplishments include work with Eric Chen that marks the beginning of image-based
rendering, as well as fundamental contributions to motion capture and animation systems.
In 1997 Williams joined Dreamworks, and today works at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
William's career has found him at many important centers of computer graphics. In each, he
has acted as an unforgettable creative force to help catapult the institution to
prominence. His technical accomplishments are always marked by fresh thinking and extreme
creativity. However, his contribution to these institutions goes much deeper. Everyone who
has been privileged to work with Williams (and there are many) remarks on how he has
touched them. Williams is famous not only for his vision, but also for his teaching, and
for his inspiration and generosity to others. For many, Williams is one of the unsung
heroes of our field.
SIGGRAPH 2001 is sponsored by ACM SIGGRAPH, the leading professional society for computer
graphics and interactive techniques. Information on ACM SIGGRAPH membership and other
conferences and activities can be found at http://www.siggraph.org
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