MINNEAPOLIS -- C. Arthur Williams Jr., a longtime insurance and risk management educator, died Aug. 16 at age 74.

For 40 years, Mr. Williams served as a teacher of insurance and risk management at several universities in the United States and abroad. He is best known for his association with the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he was associate dean and later dean of the College of Business Administration as well as chairman of the finance and insurance department.

The college's Industry Chair of Insurance was renamed the C. Arthur Williams Jr. Insurance Industry Chair upon his retirement in 1992.

"Professor Williams left such a legacy," said Denise G. Kapler, risk manager of Ramsey County in St. Paul, Minn., and president of the Minnesota chapter of the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc.

Ms. Kapler, who was a student of Mr. Williams, applauded his skill as a teacher. "He was a good mentor. He had so much experience, instead of a lot of theories, and made concepts sound so real," she said.

"If it wasn't for his personality and approach, he wouldn't have come as far as he did or win the respect of so many," Ms. Kapler added.

Mr. Williams was the author of 124 publications, including textbooks, technical articles and research studies. "An International Comparison of Workers Compensation Systems," published in 1991, is regarded as a landmark work in the field of workers compensation.

Besides his academic experience, Mr. Williams also served on the boards of directors of The St. Paul Cos. Inc. and American Hardware Mutual Insurance Co.

Mr. Williams in 1993 was inducted into The Insurance Hall of Fame, which is administered by the International Insurance Society. He also received the Elizur Wright Award from the American Assn. of Risk Management. He was an honorary deputy member of the Minnesota chapter of RIMS.

Mr. Williams served as a judge in 1984 and 1985 for the Business Insurance Risk Manager of the Year competition.

Mr. Williams was born in Blakely, Pa., and attended Columbia University in New York; he received his doctorate in 1952 from Columbia. He is survived by his wife and two sons.