William Taylor (Bill) Watson III passed away on July 19th 2011.
If you knew or worked with Mr. Watson, the family would love to hear from you. Please email the family care of wtw@goodfastmail.com
Bill was born in Nashville,TN in 1922 in his grandparents' home on Elliston Place as the first son of William Taylor Watson, Jr. and Mary Lee Crockett and grandson of Watkins Crockett, the first President of Third National Bank.
Bill attended Cavert Grade School and West End High School in Nashville and graduated Vanderbilt University as a member of SAE fraternity and ODK honorary fraternity. He was Business Manager of the Vanderbilt Hustler, elected President of the Junior Bar Association, President of JAVU, and designed the card display system used at stadium games.
Bill volunteered for the US Navy V12 at Suwanee during WWII and attended Midshipman’s School at Northwestern University graduating as Lt. (jg).
With the Navy's highest entrance exam score, he was offered his choice of any assignment in the Navy. Bill choose the most dangerous job in the Navy - Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) frogman - the predecessor to the Navy Seals.
He was assault platoon beach commander at Yellow Beach Three in the invasion of Okinawa.
He later served on the USS Charles Carroll APA 28 transporting troops across the Pacific.
After the war, Bill completed his Wharton MBA coursework while teaching at Wharton Business school and was hired even before finalizing his thesis.
He met his wife, Mary Pierson Fitch at Jones Beach, NY, proposed in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, and married her at St. Bartholomews Church in NYC.
He was a faithful, dedicated Father and husband, raising his three children with love, pride and adoration. He always said his family was his greatest joy.
His executive business career spanned 64 years as either Financial or Executive Vice President improving, expanding or turning around Otis Elevator (Yonkers), Lionel Trains (NJ)
Shampaine Industries (St. Louis),
Atlantic Steel (Atlanta)
Stedman Corporation (Asheboro), Standard Knitting (Knoxville).
In the FDIC and RTC he was COO of the largest financial portfolios in the country
. He later became a real estate broker and CPA associated with Watson Associates, Watson Realty, Volunteer Realty, Coldwell Banker, and Century 21, selling several large office buildings in downtown Knoxville. He taught at Emory University, the University of North Carolina, American Management Association, Knoxville Board of Realtors, University of Tennessee, TRECS, and Pellissippi State.
He was active all his life with various churches: West End United Methodist Church (Nashville), St. Phillips Cathedral (Atlanta, GA); Church of the Good Shepard, (Asheboro, NC); Church of the Ascension, (Knoxville, TN).
As it's first President, he raised the funds to build the Asheboro, NC YMCA.
Civic activities included being a page at the 1948 Republican National Convention, the Committee Chairman to elect Congressman Robert R. Barry( NY) and President of The Family Service Society of Yonkers, NY; membership in the Capital City Club of Atlanta and The Sons of the Revolution.
In later years he was a prolific poet and enjoyed painting.
He was predeceased by his father, William Taylor Watson, Jr.; and mother, Mary Lee Crockett Watson; sister, Mary Lee Rogers Owen; and brother, Watkins Crockett Watson.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; and three children, Mary Pierson Gibson; William T. Watson, IV; and George Fitch Watson as well as his youngest brother, Robert Preston Watson (Amelia) of Nashville,TN.
He will be greatly missed.
Communications are welcomed at www.williamtaylorwatsoniii.com
The service will be Friday, July 29th, 2011 at 12 noon.
The Episcopal Church Of The Ascension
800 S. Northshore Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
Followed next door by military honors at the Veterans Cemetery.
Church reception follows.
Any donations may be sent to the church.