Frank Williams spent his professional career solving mathematical problems, but at age 86, the retired New Mexico State University professor has found something he’s even better at — swimming.
And it’s not just recreational swimming. Williams is among the nation’s top competitive Masters swimmers, and in 2025, at age 85, he recorded more No. 1 national rankings than anyone else in his age division, earning recognition as the country’s top-ranked swimmer in the men’s 85-89 division.
For a man who didn’t begin organized competitive swimming until adulthood, it’s a remarkable achievement. But Williams, who has spent most of his life in Las Cruces, seems to enjoy the competition as much as the recognition…