W. Marvin Watson

WATSON, W. MARVIN (1924 ~ 2017). The following is an obituary for W. Marvin Watson, former Postmaster General of the United States. The obituary was provided by Weed, Corley, Fish Funeral Home of Austin.

Marvin Watson, age 93, of The Woodlands, Texas, passed away on November 27, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Marion, his daughter Kimberly Rathmann, two sons, Winston Lee Watson and William Marvin Watson III, a son-in-law, R. Craig Rathmann, a daughter-in-law, Kathryn Allen Watson, four grandchildren, Meredith Watson, Ashley Rowland, Austin Rathmann, and Winston Rathmann, and three great grandchildren, Ellie Rowland, Rhett Rowland and Harper Leigh Rathmann.

He was graduated by Huntsville High School and received Bachelor's of Business Administration and Master's in Economics degrees from Baylor University. He served as an instructor in the Economics Department while at Baylor. He later received two honorary degrees, an Honorary Doctor of Law and an Honorary Doctor of Humanities.

He served in the Marine Corps Air Wing during World War II and as the 61st Postmaster General of the United States of America, a Cabinet position at the time of his service. As Postmaster General, he managed the second largest budget in the American government, exceeded only by the Defense Department. He managed 762,000 Post Office employees. He also served as Chief of Staff in President Lyndon Johnson's White House.

His business experience after graduation from Baylor included City Judge and City Manager of Daingerfield, Texas. Later he worked for Lone Star Steel Company, in Dallas, as Executive Assistant to its President, E.B. Germany. He was President of Occidental Petroleum International and Executive Vice President and a board member of the parent company, Occidental Petroleum. During his tenure, the company grew to be the thirteenth largest corporation in America. He was Chairman and CEO of Radopath Pharmaceuticals, Chairman of the Board of Polish Telephones and Microwave Corporation, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Immune Associates, Inc., Chairman of Matrix Incorporated, Chairman of AEON Solutions Corporations, Chief Executive Officer of Out of India Corporation, and Chairman of Harbinger Corporation.

He was a member of the Texas Judicial Council, Texas Industrial Council, and was on the Executive Board of the Texas Law Enforcement Foundation. He was a member of Texas State Democratic Executive Committee, and was appointed Chairman of the Committee by Governor John B. Connally.

He and Marion were members of Second Baptist Church in Houston. Marvin served on the Board of Directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Impact, Inc., World Evangelism of America and was Chief Executive Officer of the Old Time Gospel Hour, based in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Executive Officer Scottish Hella Shrine of Dallas and Northeastern Texas Shrine Club.

Dr. Watson was laid to rest at the Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas, on November 30, 2017.