Frank was born in Monticello, GA, and moved to Lakeland, FL, around 1908. He joined the Lakeland Police Department as one of the first motorcycle officers in late 1919 or early 1920. Williams was named Lakeland police chief in April 1921. He later served as a Polk County deputy sheriff from 1925 to 1928 and as constable for two terms, from 1931 to 1940. Williams served in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II. After the war, he worked as a U.S. marshal in Tampa for a year.

Williams was elected Polk County sheriff in 1948. Governor Fuller Warren removed him from that post in 1951 on corruption charges. He ran for re-election afterward but lost that bid.