Hugh Watson, Jr.'s Obituary
Hugh Henry Watson, Jr., of Tulsa, passed away August 1 at the age of 91 following a brief illness. Born September 15, 1929 in Center, Texas to Hugh H. Watson, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Humphries Watson, he grew up in Shreveport, LA.
Married for 44 years to Mary E. “Sunshine” Worsham, who preceded Hugh in death in 1995, he and Sunshine are survived by their grown children, Dave Watson, wife Barbara (Sutton), and Liz Watson, two grandchildren, Matt Mirell and Leah Jean Watson, and two great grandchildren, Rylee and Wyatt Mirell. He also leaves a wonderful community of friends in Tulsa Houston, Denver, and Northern California/Nevada.
He attended Northwestern State University at Natchitoches 1946-50, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. His career was placed on hold as he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Chafee, Ark, and began dating Sunshine, a fellow high school student, during that time. They married in Shreveport Sept. 29, 1951 and made their home in Ft. Smith. It was in Ft. Smith they welcomed Dave, their first born in October the following year. They returned to Shreveport following his honorable discharge.
Hugh spent his long and accomplished career working in the oil industry, primarily in Production and Exploration. He joined Arkansas Fuel Oil in Shreveport, and following the purchase of the company by Cities Service, Oil, he and the family were transferred to the company’s Bartlesville headquarters. He was promoted in 1966 to serve with the parent company executives in New York City, and the family thrived in the community of Summit, NJ. A further promotion landed Hugh and his family in Tulsa the summer of 1969, where he and Sunshine lived for the rest of their lives.
Hugh enjoyed a long career marked by many significant accomplishments and recognitions:
Ø Serving on the Oklahoma Energy Advisory Council in the embargo years, 1973-74
Ø Attending the Indiana University Executive Program 1974-75 and elected to its Advisory Committee
Ø Serving as co-presenter of “U.S. Petroleum Through 1990” in 1970 and 1972
o This mathematical analysis of the U.S. oil and gas supply demand foreshadowed the energy crisis and presented its findings to then Oklahoma Sen. Henry Bellmon, and President Nixon’s Energy Aide and the lead and staff of the Office of Emergency Preparedness. In 1977, Mr. Bellmon tapped Hugh to work on assignment from Cities at the U.S. Capital Offices in Washington, D.C. to monitor Pres. Jimmy Carter’s 1977 Energy Policy Act and lobby oil industry’s interests
Ø Using the research as a precursor for further education and lobbying to members of congress led to an in-depth presentation titled, “Beyond the Rhetoric”: An Assessment of America’s Energy Options
o ‘Beyond’ assembled facts and potential economic effects of energy use which Hugh presented in graphic illustration to 150 audiences nationwide including members of Newspaper editorial boards also :
§ The Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Sunday Globe, San Francisco Examiner, Christian Science Monitor, Tulsa World, Tulsa Tribune and dozens of educational instututions, including Oklahoma State University
Hugh’s Celebration of Life is August 11 at 11 a.m. at Covenant Living at Inverness. A buffet reception follows.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Hugh’s memory to Good Shepherd Hospice, 4343 S. 118th E. Ave. #160 in Tulsa, 74146 or to Covenant Living Benevolent Fund, 3800 W. 71st Street, Tulsa, 74132.
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