Bill Williams, born William Preston Williams Jr. in 1923, was the nephew of Tom Lyle Williams, the founder of Maybelline.

William Preston Williams Jr. Evelyn Frances Williams  Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver 1934, Chicago 

The son of William Preston Williams and Evelyn Frances Williams, Bill grew up deeply connected to the Maybelline family saga. 

After William Preston Williams Sr early death in 1936, Bill spent much of his childhood in California, often at his uncle Tom Lyle’s Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills. This lavish estate, purchased from Rudolph Valentino in 1926, became a backdrop for Bill’s early years, surrounded by glamour, custom Packards, and the buzz of the cosmetics empire.

Bill’s passion for cars blossomed there, sparked by rides with Tom Lyle in a 1940 Packard 120 Convertible Victoria down Sunset Boulevard to sign movie-star contracts for Maybelline ads. This love affair with classic cars defined much of his life—he later owned treasures like a 1963 Lincoln Continental and a 1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500, reflecting the Rat Pack swagger he admired. A memorable encounter with Frank Sinatra at Palm Springs airport in 1982 saw Bill sharing champagne from his limo stash, toasting with his idol.

Though not directly involved in Maybelline’s operations, Bill carried the family’s legacy through his charisma and zest for life. 

Married to Pauline Mac Donald and later Gloria Rosan, Bill lived vibrantly until his death in 2006, leaving a legacy of car enthusiasm and Maybelline lore, chronicled by his daughter, Sharrie Williams, in The Maybelline Story. 

 Tom Lyle Williams, the founder of Maybelline, had a close relationship with his nephew, Bill Williams (often referred to as "Billy" or "Bill" in family accounts). Bill was the son of Tom Lyle'sThe son of William Preston Williams and Evelyn Frances Williams, Bill grew up deeply connected his Uncle after his father's early death. Their bond was shaped by family ties, shared experiences, and Bill's exposure to Tom Lyle's glamorous lifestyle, which significantly influenced Bill's interests and personality.

Bill spent much of his childhood visiting and staying with his uncle at the Villa Valentino, Tom Lyle's luxurious Hollywood Hills estate, which was originally owned by silent film star Rudolph Valentino. This time together fostered a deep connection between them. Tom Lyle, a private yet generous man, provided Bill with a window into a world of beauty, wealth, and creativity. Bill developed a lifelong passion for classic cars, particularly convertibles, which was inspired by his uncle's own love for custom-designed vehicles, such as the 1939 Packard 120 Convertible Victoria that Tom Lyle kept at the Villa. Bill's favorite car, a 1977  Clenet.  was a reflection of this influence, and he went on to collect and sell many classic cars throughout his life.

Their relationship was also marked by shared leisure activities. At the Villa Valentino, Tom Lyle and Bill enjoyed swimming in the Olympic-sized pool, playing badminton, and spending time in the Hawaiian-themed game room, where they’d drop dimes into a slot machine. These moments highlight a playful, familial dynamic, with Tom Lyle acting as both a mentor and a fun-loving uncle. Bill’s exposure to this environment, filled with Hollywood glamour and Maybelline’s advertising legacy, left a lasting impression on him.

Tom Lyle’s generosity extended to his family, including Bill. When he sold Maybelline to Plough Inc. in 1967, he ensured that stockholding family members, including Bill’s branch of the family, benefited financially, further cementing his role as a supportive figure. While specific details about their day-to-day interactions are limited, it’s clear that Bill admired his uncle and was shaped by the time they spent together, particularly during his formative years at the Villa Valentino. This relationship blended familial affection with a shared appreciation for beauty, style, and the finer things in life.

AFTER THE LAGUNA BEACH FIRE THE REBUILDING PROCESS BEGINS.

The excitement, frustration, anticipation, fear and finally.....the joy of building my house from the ground up.

A year and a half after the fire my lot was cleared and prepared for building process to begin.

My dad Bill Williams, ( here with his wife Gloria,) worked with Architect Bruce Spielbuehler, to design our new Mediterranean, Art Deco home.

Georgia stands on the cleared lot.  The view is spectacular, but our neighbor's Mark and Barbara's house will eventually be rebuilt across the street. 

My dad visits the site everyday.  Acting as Boss he makes sure every detail in the blueprints are properly addressed and fires subcontractors he doesn't think are doing their job.  I could never have done this alone.

The hill had to be pushed back five feet and major retaining walls built before the first floor could go up.

Gloria directs traffic as nonstop trucks go up and down the hill. The narrow street made It nearly impossible to squeeze enough space for trucks to stop and deliver wood, dirt etc.

My dad and Gloria see the vision of his imagination

unfolding like magic before their eyes.

My full time job as owner/Builder was being at the site everyday working with the Builder, Architect and my Dad..... I put in eight hour days answering questions, picking out tile, paint, appliances  and writing checks from the insurance money. 

The garage walls go up and I can't help think the safe that was in the floor holding my Baby diamond ring.  How could it have survived the firestorm? 

My Architect Bruce Spielbuehler and Builder Randy Smith, check the blueprints after the house was framed.

Even my brother Preston, helped a great deal, doing all the wiring for the stereo and surround sound.   

Finally the most exciting moment came when my dad and I climbed the stairs to the second story and stood in my new bedroom overlooking the ocean.  Maybe I wasn't able to write my book yet, but the dream of having a second story on my home came true for me.

To be continued tomorrow.

To see the whole series I did on the Laguna Beach Fire please check under archives. 

What can readers take away from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Why did you write the Maybelline Story

It's been a long process.  My grandmother began telling me the Maybelline story when I was a young girl and the seed was planted.

Nana, Evelyn Williams

After her death I was determined to finish it.  I knew that if I didn’t tell the story it would be lost forever. The Maybelline Story is a thread in the fabric of American history and a big part of vintage Hollywood glamour.  I also wanted my great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, the founder of the Maybelline Company to be remembered for his tremendous contribution to the Cosmetic industry as well.  

Growing up with a great uncle who made my life so magical.  It wasn't about the money;   It was about being so close with my cousins and the fun of sharing our excitement as the Maybelline grew into a global giant.  Now as an older woman I hope to give back some of the wisdom and strength I gained ridding this roller coaster experience.

My dad, Nana, Uncle Lyle and Emery Shaver sitting down

My grandmother, Evelyn Williams was married to Tom Lyle's brother Preston, my grandfather.  After Preston's death, at only 37 years of age, she and my 12-year-old father followed Tom Lyle from Chicago to California.  The three of them remained extremely close and loved to talk about the good old days when Maybelline was a little mail order business sold through the classifieds in Movie magazines.  I was so fascinated by their stories as a little girl that all I wanted to do was hear more, as often as possible.  Soon I became my grandmother’s little protege and eventually her little clone.  So yes I was indoctrinated at an early age with the rules of the game, the family dynamics and I did know and appreciate the tremendous contribution Tom Lyle bestowed on women and the world of beauty. 

What advice can you give others who want to follow in your uncle’s shoes? For the underdogs.

Tom Lyle Williams was the biggest underdog of all, of course.  That's what the Maybelline Story is all about.  He started out with nothing more than a good idea, lots of determination and a $500 loan from his brother and turned it into a worldwide brand.  It's all about building your brand and your reputation.  Brands come and go if it's not built on integrity.  Like doing a blog...It takes about three years before you really see results and during that time, you develop discipline and determination, or you give up and never see the results of your labor.  As my great uncle would say... It's easy to be excited and happy when it's new and easy... the true test of success, is keeping the momentum going during the down cycles.  If you believe in your project, you have to keep going even though it might take years.  It took me 20 years to get published and I wanted to give up and burn my manuscript all the time.  When I least expected it, the miracle happened and now the energy I put forth building that momentum is expanding the blog and my voice into the world - Because I never gave up.

What is this book about? Is there anything in this book that you did not publish? Care to share?

The Maybelline story is about a young 19-year-old entrepreneur who rides the ups and downs of life while building a little company called Maybelline. The book is a rags to riches story with an interesting twist in the end you won't forget.

Who are your greatest influences and why?

My father Bill Williams was Tom Lyle's nephew and godson. He grew up at the Villa Valentino in Hollywood where he learned the secrets to his uncle’s great success.  My father was an extremely talented interior designer and builder.  When my home burned down in the 1993 Laguna Beach, California Firestorm I lost everything because I wasn't home.  I wanted to give up and die, but it was my father who held me together and helped me get back on my feet.  I thrived because of his determination to see me overcome my doubts and succeed.  He designed and helped me rebuild my home.  He also helped me research and write my book.  I learned so much from him and now carry that spirit of “Yes I can!” with me to pass onto the next generation.  

What will readers take from this great read?

They will be inspired to believe anything is possible if they  keep going and never give up. 

What was the best advice your uncle or mother gave you about beauty?

My mother believed that beauty was an inside job.  That who you are inside is reflected on your face.  You see beautiful young girls turn into nasty middle-aged women and bitter old ladies.  All the Maybelline in the world can't cover up the truth of who you are inside.  If a woman doesn't grow, change and accept life she will remain a spoiled unattractive child in an aging body.  All women must work on their attitude and mature within to keep their youthful effervescent beauty into old age.   Like the saying goes, Maybe She's born with it... Maybe it's Maybelline.

Describe your best achievement with your family name and without?

My best achievement with the Maybelline name so far, is writing my book and becoming a positive role model for women who want to achieve their goals.  It's not about make-up for me anymore; it's way beyond make-up.   Without the Maybelline name, my biggest achievement is being Mom and Nana and a positive role model for my family I grow into old age.  

Evelyn Williams (Nana), Bill Williams (my dad), Sharrie Williams (me)Tom Lyle Williams (my great uncle) 1965

 favorite childhood memory

Going up to my great uncle's home in Bel Air California with my family and playing with him in the pool.  I remember he was such an unassuming man that he'd actually wear swim trunks pinned at the waist because the elastic had stretched out.  Here was a man who could afford the best and yet was so comfortable with himself around his family; he didn't need to show off.  On the other hand he was so generous that he gave millions to them after the sale of the Maybelline Company in December of 1967.

Maybelline turned sweet mother into a Pin Up Girl

Evelyn remarked to Pauline that she needed a little make-over.  She took her by the hand into the bedroom and closed the door.  Bill screamed at his mother to stop, "I like like the way she looks," he said, "She's only 15 for darn sakes." but his mother proceeded to the lock the door.

 Pauline emerged from Evelyn's silk covered bedroom, which held an enormous dressing table filled with Maybelline products and an enormous round mirror lit up like a Movie Star's dressing room.

Eyelyn had transformed her son's girlfriend from a simple little high school girl into a gorgeous woman with Judy Garland eyes and a Vavoom figure. Bill stood there gawking with his mouth open.  Pauline had morphed into a knock out, a pin up girl, as beautiful as any of his uncle's Maybelline models..... 

Read more about my parents, Bill and Pauline and my grandmother Evelyn in my book, The Maybelline Story, now on audible.

  Listen to a free sample on Amazon now.

my step mother Gloria, cousin Chuck Williams, Me, Dad, Bill Williams, my sister's Billee and Donna

This picture was taken in 2002, four years before my dad fell, hit his head and died after two brain surgery's to reduce the pressure on his brain. While in intensive care the surgeon told the family he was bleeding in the center of his brain. He lived for a week unconscious before dying.  I'll never forget the phone call from my brother Preston, telling me "Dad's gone."

My dad at 51, and me during the filming of Goodbye Norma Jean in 1974. He was in his prime and he had a Living Trust.

It's bad enough going thorough the trauma of losing a parent, but having to deal with his estate, has been a 10 year nightmare. It still isn't settled after years of fighting a lawsuit and the economic downturn.  The year he died, 2006, the Death Tax was around $2,000,000. meaning anything over that was taxed 55%. Today if a person dies and leaves an estate under $5,430,000 there is no Death Tax.

My Dad in his late 60s, still robust and productive. He had a Living Trust.

 If my Dad hadn't had a living trust and a good Tax Attorney and Accountant the nightmare after his death, would have been unbearable.  If you are considering a Living Trust do it now.  I have one and have had it for over 10 years. I wouldn't want anyone to ever face Probate. I think you might be interested in seeing how an Estate Tax would impact your family today.

What is Estate Tax and how does it Impact Me?

All forms of property, irrespective the format of ownership, that an individual owns at the time of their death is subject to federal estate tax. This tax is then payable through your estate. Normally, it will be paid by the decedent’s estate before the distribution of properties to the estate’s beneficiaries. Estate taxes are due, barring an extension, within a period of nine months of the individual’s death.

Exclusions on Estate Tax

Though the majority of the decedent’s assets will be included within the gross estate, occasionally there are exclusions. If the property is left outright to a spouse, then the federal tax liability is nil. It is a scenario referred to as marital deduction.

Should the decedent leave property to a charity that is tax-exempt, there will be no tax.

The Payment of Estate Taxes

Most Americans will not be subjected to federal estate taxes. As a matter of fact, it’s a tax that only impacts the wealthiest of Americans in most (but not all) states.  For a death that has occurred during 2015, the exemption on federal tax has been set at $5,430,000, per person.  If you exceed that amount, then a 40 percent tax levy is applied.

How to make a Calculation and File

The calculation of federal estate tax is potentially a complex matter. As such, it is thoroughly advisable to utilize the services of an estate tax attorney or other tax professional to receive help. An attorney who works in the practice of estate planning will be able to help you through the process, keep you updated as to any new laws, and also complete all the filing matters for you.

Nevertheless, if you are not quite ready to engage the services of an attorney just yet, and you merely wish to gain some concept as to the amount you could owe, you may utilize an estate tax calculator online. These can afford a reasonably good idea as to how much you will owe.

To use an online calculator, you will require as much information as you can garner with respect to cash and retirement accounts, investment accounts, vested stock options, life insurance proceeds, your home’s value, vehicles, together with any other assets. You will also need to know about your liabilities, unused exemptions of federal estate tax, charitable bequests, and taxable gifts.

You may wish to file on your own, in which case, you should use IRS Form 706. During the preparation of the return, do remember that you must file for an estate’s gross value rather than net value over and above the estate tax amount of exemption.

The return is due within nine months of death. Should you require more time, it is possible to pay an estimated tax prior to the due date, after which, you must file for an extension of six months. If you need help with filing, read through the IRS’s Publication 950.

Estate Taxes for the State

There may be no federal estate tax owed by an estate, but there are 15 states together with the District of Columbia that do levy their own taxes, and an individual does not have to be super wealthy to have to pay.

Currently, as of 2015, the following states are included: Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Washington, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut Tennessee, and Hawaii.

When will an Estate be Subjected to Federal Estate Tax?

With the death of an individual, an estate will become a taxable entity. Prior to the calculation of the tax, your real property, gross estate of money, and any other assets whereby you had some form of interest at the time of death, minus marital and charitable deductions, in addition to administration expenses of the estate, together with other acceptable deductions, will be tallied by the IRS to assess your net taxable estate.

If the taxable estate is to exceed the decedent’s exemption, federal tax is then payable. In 2015, the amount of exemption is $5.43 million. However, if you are married, your spouse has a separate exemption entitlement of a further $5.43 million.

The IRS closely scrutinizes the assets that are included in the estate as well as the worth of each item. This can and frequently does become the source of frustration between an estate and the IRS.

If your family owe estate taxes, use the services of a recommended tax lawyer in Rochester.