8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 29, 2004

                             WILLIAMS CONTROLS, INC.
                             -----------------------
               (Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                      0-18083                        84-1099587
- ---------------            ---------------------            -------------------
(State or other            (Commission File No.)             (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                             Identification No.)
 incorporation)

                   14100 S.W. 72nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97224
                   ------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (503) 684-8600
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)




Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure

In a press release dated July 29, 2004 Williams Controls, Inc. announced that
Patrick Cavanagh has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective
October 4, 2004. In conjunction with Mr. Cavanagh's appointment, Gene Goodson,
the Company's current President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Chairman
will retire from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer but will
remain Chairman of the Board.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)   Exhibits.

            99.1  Press Release, dated July 29, 2004.




                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed for and on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                WILLIAMS CONTROLS, INC.

Date: July 29, 2004                             By: /s/ DENNIS E. BUNDAY
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                        Dennis E. Bunday
                                                        Chief Financial Officer


                                       2

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

         Williams Controls Announces Patrick Cavanagh as New President
                          and Chief Executive Officer

    PORTLAND, Ore., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Williams Controls, Inc.
(OTC: WMCO) today announced that Patrick (Pat) Cavanagh, 51, will become
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  His appointment will be
effective October 4, 2004 allowing Mr. Cavanagh to make an orderly transition
from his current position with Woodward Governor Company (Nasdaq: WGOV).

    Effective with Mr. Cavanagh's appointment, Gene Goodson, the Company's
current President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Chairman will retire
from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer but will remain
Chairman of the Board.

    Mr. Cavanagh has over 30 years experience manufacturing and supplying
control systems and components to diesel engine and mobile equipment
manufacturers worldwide.  This equipment is used in heavy-duty trucks and
busses, off-road vehicles, construction equipment, stationary power systems,
and specialty vehicle applications.  Prior to joining Williams, he was
responsible for Woodward Governor's Small Industrial Engine operation, which
included Synchro-Start Products Inc., Barber Colman's Precision Dynamics
Division and the Nolff Carburetion businesses, which were acquired by Woodward
recently.  Woodward is a $600 million supplier of control systems used in
Aircraft and Industrial applications.  Prior to Woodward, he was Vice
President and General Manager of the Automotive Components Group, a division
of Knowles Electronics where he had outstanding success in growing sales and
profits over many years.  During his time with Knowles, he established
manufacturing facilities in China and Hungary.  Additionally, Mr. Cavanagh was
Managing Director of Ruf Electronics a key supplier of automotive sensors
based in Munich, Germany and held several international management and
engineering positions with Barber Colman Company.  Mr. Cavanagh holds a
bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from the Milwaukee
School of Engineering.

    Commenting on Mr. Cavanagh's appointment, Williams Controls' Board
Chairman Gene Goodson stated, "We are very fortunate to have Pat join the
Williams Controls management team.  I have personally known Pat for over
13 years and in all that time, he has shown himself to be a high quality
manager with a proven track record in satisfying customers and growing sales
and profits."  Mr. Goodson continued, "Pat brings just the right mix of
relevant business experience to Williams.  He has developed successful,
worldwide businesses with competitive operations in the most efficient
production environments most notably in China and Eastern Europe.  All Pat's
operations stress the quality systems that customers desire, while delivering
returns that satisfy shareholders.  Mr. Goodson concluded, "Williams is well
poised with growth opportunities, and Pat will be a very valuable leader in
realizing those opportunities."


    ABOUT WILLIAMS CONTROLS

    Williams Controls is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of sensors
and controls for the motor vehicle industry.  For more information, you can
find Williams Controls on the Internet at www.wmco.com.


    The statements included in this news release concerning predictions of
economic performance and management's plans and objectives constitute
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.  These forward looking
statements are based on management's assumptions and projections, and are
sometimes identifiable by use of the words, "expect to," "plan," "will,"
"believe" and words of similar predictive nature.  Because management's
assumptions and projections are based on anticipation of future events, you
should not place undue emphasis on forward-looking statements.  You should
anticipate that our actual performance may vary from these projections, and
variations may be material and adverse.  You should not rely on
forward-looking statements in evaluating an investment or prospective
investment in our stock, and when reading these statements you should consider
the uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors
detailed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of the Company;
economic downturns affecting the operations of the Company or any of its
business operations, competition, and the ability of the Company to
successfully identify and implement any strategic alternatives.  The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of
the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.



SOURCE  Williams Controls, Inc.
    -0-                             07/29/2004
    /CONTACT:  Dennis E. Bunday, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Williams Controls, Inc., +1-503-684-8600/
    /Web site:  http://www.wmco.com /
    (WMCO WGOV)

CO:  Williams Controls, Inc.
ST:  Oregon
IN:  AUT ECP OTC
SU:  PER