[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
                       TRIBUTE TO JAMES L. WATSON

  (Mr. McHENRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, my district, Gaston County and the City of 
Gastonia lost a great leader when they lost three-term City Councilman 
James L. Watson, who passed away this Wednesday.
  ``Slug'' Watson, as he was known, became a great baseball player in 
youth and was always known as ``Slug.'' He was a great friend of mine 
and an early supporter of mine. He was an Army veteran, president of 
his own small business and a community stalwart. Citizens of West 
Gastonia had no greater friend and advocate than James Watson.
  James was also an active member of his church, where he was a deacon. 
Upon his election in 2003, his constituents in Ward 6, the only area of 
Gastonia that overlaps with my congressional district, found themselves 
also served by a city councilman who had a passion for service and 
loved helping people. Slug showed us all perseverance. He ran three 
times for city council and lost, but he was elected three times after 
that.
  James left his native Gastonia to serve our country in the Army and 
later went on to earn a degree in Small Business from the University of 
South Carolina.
  Upon returning, he embarked on a successful business career with 
several firms, culminating in the founding of Watco of Gastonia, a 
parts company of which he was the President and Owner for the past 24 
years.
  Citizens of West Gastonia had no greater friend or advocate than 
James Watson. He was a stalwart in the community for decades. he served 
on the Shiele Museum Board of Trustees, The Gastonia Recreation 
Advisory Board, was on the first Executive Board of Gastonia Community 
Watch Association, was past President of the Hunter Huss High School 
Booster Club, and was a Shriner. He was also an active member of 
Maranatha Baptist Church where he was a former Deacon.
  In politics, I learned a real lesson from James, that of persistence. 
He ran for City Council three times before he was victorious.
  I want to extend my condolences to his wife of nearly 50 years, 
Carolyn, and the entire Watson family, as well as the mayor and city 
council of Gastonia. We have all lost a true statesman and a great 
leader.

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