Don Williamson, a millionaire businessman who was mayor of Flint for more than five years, has died. He was 85.
Williamson's death from a respiratory ailment was announced Tuesday by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. He called him a "brilliant" businessman who "could turn about anything into a profit."
Williamson was elected Flint mayor in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He resigned in 2009, citing health problems just before a recall election. The Flint Journal says he refused to take a salary and used his wealth to perform neighborhood cleanups.
Flint's current mayor, Karen Weaver, ordered city flags to half-staff to honor a "hard-working public servant."
Williamson lived in Davison Township after leaving office. He built a bronze statue of himself with a motto: "Success is the best revenge."
