Franklin-Sandusky-Seneca County OhArchives Biographies.....Watts, Donald November 3, 1918 - November 17, 2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Warren Watts WattsHawaii@aol.com May 4, 2005, 3:56 pm Author: Warren L. Watts Biography of Donald Pershing Watts (1918-2001) Donald Pershing Watts was born 3 November 1918, in Columbus, OH, to Jacob Lester and Lillian Estelle (Story) Watts. He is the 2nd great grandson of John and Sarah (Goetschius) Watts, early pioneers of Ohio who emigrated from the Albany area, New York to Franklin County, OH in 1812. His maternal grandmother, Lillian Rebecca (White) Watts, is a descendent of Peregrine White who was born on the Mayflower after it docked. Some other surnames related to the Watts/Goetschius Families of Franklin County, Ohio, include the descendents of Margaret Chambers, Demaris Johnson, Samuel White, George W. Alkire, and Marmarduke Story. Donald grew up the Franklin County area of Columbus, Grove City, and Briggsdale. He graduated from West High School in Columbus in 1936. In 1936, Donald was one of the five (Don Watts, Jean Frank, Ozzie Simmons, Forest Hatfield, and Marian Brandenberger) West High wrestlers who won the championship in every weight division they entered in their respective weights and were awarded individual metal trophies for their excellent work. The team amassed a total of 107 points against 38 for the opposition in city competition. In 1986, Donald attended the 50th Anniversary of West High School’s Class of 1936 and made many generous contributions to his Alumni Association throughout the years. His only surviving sibling, Jeanne (Watts) Perry, 82 years young, who resides in Bradenton, Florida, is a 1938 graduate of West High School. After graduation at West High School, Donald entered the United States Army and after over twenty-eight (28) years in the military retired in 1972 as the Deputy Post Commander at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He served in combat during World War II and the Korea War. During World War II (1942-1946), he served in combat as a First Lieutenant Platoon Leader and Reconnaissance Officer for an Auto-Tank Company, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, which saw combat in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe. During the Korean War (1951-1953) he served in combat as a Captain with the Ninth Infantry Regiment Manchu’s and held various assignments: Company Commander, 9th Inf HV Mortar and Dog Company; Operations Officer of an Infantry Battalion, 9th Manchu Regiment; and Executive Officer of an Infantry Battalion, 9th Manchu Regiment. He and his men saw combat at the infamous “Pork Chop Hill,” “Old Baldy,” and “T-Bone Hill.” In 1981, Colonel Watts and his wife, Mary Louise, returned to South Korea the invitation of the South Korean Government where he was awarded “The Ambassador of Peace” Award by Korean Vice Admiral Maeng Kee Lee, ROKN (Retired) and President of the Korean Veteran’s Association. After these two wars, Donald held various assignments in Ohio National Guard, Columbus, OH; Camp Perry, Ohio; Augsburg, Germany; Fort Ord, CA; Military Advisory Group, Ethiopia; and Deputy Post Commander, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. Upon his retirement in 1970, COL Watts became one of Indianapolis’ prominent citizens. He was hired by two of this country’s top cardio-vascular heart surgeons to form a medical corporation, which after 25 years, became one of the first and most successful cardio-vascular medical corporations in the country, Cardiovascular Surgical Service, Inc. As their Executive Manager, Donald started at the ground floor and developed the corporation into a multi-million dollar medical practice with over 30 practicing cardiovascular surgeons and consultants. He also mentored other doctors in the medical profession during the planning and execution of the medical corporations. As a result, other entrepreneurs in the business community often called him for mentoring, even after his retirement from this second career in 1994, at the age of 75. Colonel Watts was married to another Ohio native, Mary Louise Swint of Fremont, Ohio, for 60 years. Donald and Mary were married on 25 February 1941 at St. Joseph Church in Fremont, Sandusky County, OH. Mary’s parents, Jacob A. and Estella (Schwartz) Swint, were also descendant’s of the early pioneers of Fremont, OH, who emigrated from Alsace Lorraine in 1836 Some of these descendents surnames include Batt, Schwartz, Swint, Reineck, Schmittuz, Gabel, Spieldenner, Rimmelspach, Halbeisen, and Freeh, . Donald and Mary had eight (8) children, 23 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. All four of their sons (Warren Lee, Paul Richard, Stephen Charles, and Michael James) entered the military service, are Vietnam Veterans, graduated from Indiana University, and are successful in their own right. Warren Lee, his eldest son, was the only one that made a career out of the military. His four daughters (Sandra Jean, Patricia Ann, Janice Marie, and Kathleen Diane) are all married, have grown children, and are also established contributors to their community. His eldest daughter, Sandra Jean, has been the Chairman of Red Cross Volunteers of Greater Indianapolis for over 25 years and has been recognized at the local and national levels for her outstanding volunteer services throughout her 25 years as a full time non-paid member of this great organization. During their 50th and 60th Wedding Anniversary, all children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and relatives from both sides of the family paid tribute to their mother and father. During this tribute, Colonel Watts confessed that he real General in the Watts Clan was their mother, Mary Louise, who raised all eight of them single handedly throughout the years while he was off fighting two wars and overseas and/or out of town on unaccompanied assignments in his military career. In June 1995, Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, and Lawrence Mayor Thomas Schneider recognized COL Watts for his distinguished service as a member of the Fort Harrison Transition Task Force. Other Fraternal Patriotic and Service Organizations that Colonel Watts belonged to were: Past President, Fremont, Ohio Junior Chamber of Commerce; Past President, Lions Club; Former Leading Knight, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1209; Former Member Board of Directors, Sandusky County Red Cross Chapter; Director, 1948 Sandusky County American Red Cross Fund Campaign; Past President, Sandusky County Youth Council; Former District Chairman Federal Housing Administration Rent Control Board; District Coordinator, President’s Council on Youth Opportunity; Former Justice of the Peace, Ballville Township, Fremont, Ohio; Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion; Recipient of WTTV’s “500” Festival Volunteer of the Year Award for 1969; Former Member of the Board, Fort Harrison Transition Task Force, 1993-1995; Former Member of Senator Dan Coats Service Academy Board, 1977-1998; Past President of the Exchange Club, Lawrence, Indiana (1997-1998). On February 14, 2001, Colonel Watts, at the age of 82, 3 months, and 14 days, died of pancreatic cancer. He was given a full military funeral, including a flag draped coffin, bagpipes, and a 21-gun salute. He was entombed at the Calvary Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN. His wife, Mary Louise, died on 30 Jul 2002, at the age of 81, 7 months, and 20 days. She was entombed beside her husband at Calvary Cemetery. Donald was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dan Watts; and a File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/franklin/bios/watts78bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 8.1 Kb