Senator De Vere Watson View All Years

DEVERE WATSON

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable DeVere Watson, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

DeVere Watson was born in Searsboro, Iowa, April 1, 1893, the son of George M. and Clara Alice Watson. Mr. Watson passed away November 14, 1982, and was preceded in death by his first wife, Freole Placek.

Mr. Watson graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1911 and the Law College of the University of Iowa in 1915. Immediately following his graduation from law school, he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was a practicing attorney for more than 50 years. During his professional life as an attorney, he was the city attorney for Carter Lake and a special city attorney for Council Bluffs.

DeVere Watson was very active in community affairs and was a long time member of the Eagles, Knights of the Pythias, Elks, Mooses, Woodmen and Lions. Mr. Watson notably was one of the last surviving charter members of the Council Bluffs Lions Club, and was a past district governor of the lions club as well as a former national president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Senator Watson served as a member of the Iowa Senate in the 49th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th and 56th General Assemblies (1940-1956). In the 56th General Assembly, he served as President pro tempore. He was known as “the Pottawattamie Chief” when he was first selected as a Pottawattamie County senator and campaigned to reduce the income tax. He was christened “Chief of the Pottawattamies - the Fighting Pottawattamies.”

Mr. Watson is survived by his second wife, Bessie; two sons, Jack of Oxford, Mississippi and George of Baltimore, Maryland; four daughters, Jeanne Curran of Rock Springs, Wyo., Nadine Evans of Council Bluffs, Pat Schneider of Claremont, Calif., and Alice Blackford of Omaha; twenty-three grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Now Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable DeVere Watson, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate, by this resolution, expresses its appreciation of his service to his community, state and nation and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be entered into the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to each member of Mr. Watson’s family.

TOM SLATER, Chair

JAMES E. BRILES

C. JOSEPH COLEMAN

Committee