James Williamson, a 1970 graduate, was a record-setting punter for the HPU Yellow Jackets. In an era before specialized kickers, Williamson went on to hold Lone Star Conference records in punting in 1966, 1967 and 1968. During his freshman year at HPU, he was named "Texas Punter of the Year" by the Dallas Morning News and in 1966-67 was named the "All-Texas Punter of the Year." During his senior year in 1969, he had the longest punt in the history of HPU (79 yards). Until recently broken in 2012. He still holds the NAIA national record – total number of punts in career with 277 and total yardage 11,849 yards.

Williamson's punting average was among the tops in the nation every year-
1966 – 43.5 avg - #3 (0.9 from the #1 spot)
1967 – 45.5 avg - #1 (led nation all divisions)
1968 – 39.4 avg - #3
1969 – 43.5 avg - #4

Williamson's punting average was among the top in the nation every year and he has remained in the top 10 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in career average. He holds HPU's single-season punting average record of 45.5 yards per punt (58 attempts) set in 1967. Williamson graduated from HPU in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He was a student in HPU's Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom (now the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy) and was active in student government, serving terms as class president and class treasurer. He was also a Student Supreme Court member and a Democracy in Action committee member, and he represented HPU at the Dallas Council on World Affairs. Additionally, he was listed in the "Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities" publication and in the "Outstanding College Athletes of America" publication.

After graduation, Williamson become a free agent with New Orleans Saints in 1970 and then spent one season (1972) with Omaha Semi-Pro team averaging 43.8 per punt.
Williamson is a past member of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy Board of Directors and served as president of HPU's Alumni Association. He created the James L. Williamson Endowed Scholarship for students in HPU's School of Business. In addition to a stint as HPU's vice president for development, Williamson has served many years in the insurance field. He and his wife, Jeanie Lambert Williamson, have three children and six grandchildren.