Eddie Williams exiting Joint Center

EDDIE WILLIAMS EXITING JOINT CENTER: Eddie N. Williams (c), who will step down as president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in December, was feted during the centor's annual fund-raising dinner in Washington, D.C. Congratulating him are (l-r) Ajan J. Lacy, chairman and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist; Joint Center Board Chair Elliot S.

Hall, partner, Dykema Gossett, PLLC; and Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., senior managing director at Lazard Freres & Co., LLC. Williams, who has been Joint Center president for 32 years, was honored for helping shape it into a watchdog of public policy. Lator Williams presented Jordan with the center's 2004 "Louis E. Martin Great American" award for his commitment to justice and equality. The Joint Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that conducts research on public policy issues of concern to Blacks and other minorities.