TRIBUTE TO DR. CHARLES E. WATSON
WHEREAS, God in His Infinite Wisdom and Judgment has called to his Eternal Reward Dr. Charles E. Watson, a devoted, passionate, generous contributor; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Watson was born in Halls, Tennessee on May 16, 1932 to Joseph Lewis and Mary Ella (Roundtree) Watson, one of five children; and
WHEREAS Education was a priority by his parents, Dr, Watson attended and achieved academic success at Lauderdale County High School in Tennessee. Dr. Watson furthered his education and received a Bachelor of Science degree and performed post graduate work at Tennessee State University; and
WHEREAS, After earning his degrees, Dr Charles Watson served his country in the United States Army-Special Services Division. After proudly serving his country he was accepted into Dental School at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee where he was awarded his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1961; and
WHEREAS, After marrying Eloys L. Williams, Dr. Wilson and his wife moved to the south side of Chicago where the couple was blessed with three children, Carla, Cheryl and Charles Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Professionally he started a dental practice at 63rd and Maryland and in 1972 relocated to 83rd and Stony Island Avenue where he continued to practice dentistry until 1996. Both of his daughters followed in his footsteps, Cheryl joining the dental practice in 1987 and Carla managing the practice from 1991-2002; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Watson took great pride in dentistry, he was also very active in social and local politics. In 1962 Dr. Watson participated in the March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King. His political involvement spanned from local and state including his engagement in the campaigns of State Senators. Dr. Watson supported State Comptroller, Roland Burris and generously gave his time to the grassroots election of the former Mayor Harold Washington, for whom he served as an unofficial advisor. Recently he supported both State Senator Kwame Raoul and President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, Committed to organized dentistry, Dr. Watson was active with the Lincoln^ <->
Dental Society (President), Kenwood Hyde Park Dental Society (President^ Th&3 ~}
Progressive Club, Chicago Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society (LSg^fativgj o
Committee), American Dental Association (State Representative to the AmericaQcDentaT^
Political Action Committee) and the National Dental Association. While dedigajirig hti? orn
life to his practice, his community and the political process, nothing was moreampbrtanb ' £
to Dr. Watson than his family. He took his family, extended family and fiends on
frequent family vacations that included RV trips covering 40 states and Canadal D_K
Watson also traveled to Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean; and to ^
I
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Watson leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of eight years, Sallie; his sisters. Dr. L. Marilyn Watson and Dr. Marian L. Watson and his brother, retired Cook County Deputy Commissioner Alfred E. Watson (Naomi); his children, Carla D. Watson, Dr. Cheryl D. Watson-Lowry (William A. Lowry, Sr., Esq.) and Charles E. Watson, Jr.; step-daughter, Anitra Elmore (Darold); seven grandchildren, Taylor E. and Joshua E. Mason (Carla), William A., Evan J. and Clark E. Lowry (Cheryl), Annah and Donovan (Anitra); five sisters-in-law, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and his dedicated care-giver, Jonkim Jones; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Michelle Harris, Alderman of the 8th Ward has informed this august body of the passing of this noteworthy individual; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago gathered here this 12th day of December 2012 AD, do hereby express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Watson.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Dr. Charles Watson.
MICHELLE HARRIS Alderman -8th Ward
m