[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 107 (Friday, July 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S8382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JOHN S. WATSON, SR.

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, on July 6, former New Jersey 
Assemblyman John S. Watson, Sr. died of cancer. A committed public 
official and compassionate private individual, he will be missed by the 
entire New Jersey community.
  Watson's life was a series of firsts. He was a public official for 23 
years, serving at both the county and State level. In 1970, he became 
the first African-American member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 
Mercer County. Seven years later, he became the first black freeholder 
in New Jersey to be chosen president of a county freeholder board. In 
1981, he was elected to the New Jersey Assembly where he represented 
the 15th District for 12 years. His career in the legislature was 
capped by being named chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee 
in 1992; he was the first African-American in the country to hold such 
a position.
  During his years in the Assembly, John also served on the Housing 
Committee, the Legislative Advisory Committee on Arts and Furnishings, 
and the New Jersey Capital Budgeting and Planning Commission. As a 
legislator, he successfully sponsored measures to create the minority 
opportunity skills training program, a college based computer training 
program, and the New Jersey pre-college program for high school 
students.
  Assemblyman Watson consistently supported State aid to urban areas, 
tax reform and programs for the elderly and poor. He successfully 
fought to establish a rainy day fund to reserve budget surpluses for 
times when revenue declined. He was also known for his unfailing 
courtesy to those on both sides of the political aisle.
  But if that is how John Watson will be remembered in Trenton, his 
district will remember him as a caring man who used his political power 
to aid individuals and families in need. New Jersey will indeed miss 
his service and his spirit.
  The great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer remarked, ``One thing I 
know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who 
will have sought and found how to serve.''
  If that is true, then John S. Watson, Sr. was indeed the happiest of 
men.

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