JULY 19, 1937 – FEBRUARY 25, 2024
IN THE CARE OF
George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home
Harry Mitchell Watson, Jr. passed away in the early morning hours of February 25, 2024, at the age of 86. Visits from family and lifelong friends and calls from grandchildren near and far in the days preceding his passing were a comfort.
Born to Harry M. Watson Sr. and Charlotte Stair Watson of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mitchell grew up in the beautiful, dogwood-filled neighborhood of Sequoia Hills. You could often find Mitchell picking blackberries, exploring mountain streams with his grandfather, and walking to his grandmother’s home. An accomplished vocalist, she fostered in him a love of fine music that eventually led to his becoming President of the North Carolina Symphony, President and Trustee of the Brevard Music Center, and a patron of the symphony in Jackson, Tennessee.
Mitchell Watson was a leader in the many communities where he lived and an encouraging mentor to the young people he encountered from all walks of life. He combined good judgment with a non-judgemental attitude and was particularly dedicated to the challenges facing those born into poverty. He brought his time and energy to people of all means, working together with them to grow in security, faith, and joy. From working the serving line at the local RIFA soup kitchen in Jackson to serving as President of Helen Keller International in New York, Mitchell combined a love of people with an optimism for a better world.
Mitchell was a loving family man, devoted to his wife Kate for 62 years of marriage until his passing. He was a gentle father and grandfather, always ready with a friendly ear and words of encouragement. Throughout his marriage, he loved listening to and supporting his wife, Kate, at vocal performances, both informal and professional. For his grandchildren, he loved making trails through the woods of his summer home in Cashiers, North Carolina, so that he could walk with them when they came to visit, each child with their own special trail. Mitchell was also an avid athlete, playing varsity tennis at the University of Tennessee and throughout his lifetime, passing a love for the sport to his wife, children, and grandchildren. He also had a passion for golf, with many club tournament trophies to his name.
Mitchell had a deep Christian faith, which he expressed not only through non-profit work but also in leadership roles at almost every church of which he was a member. He was instrumental in mission work from rural Kenya to rural Maine, along with directly helping to bring healthcare resources to underserved communities in Appalachia and helping to build the Haywood Street Respite for those experiencing homelessness in Asheville, North Carolina. Ministers across a range of denominations sought Mitchell’s guidance and support throughout his lifetime. Mitchell was particularly proud of his work with The Poverty Initiative in collaboration with Union Theological Seminary in New York, a project that aims to create religious and community leaders committed to building a social movement to end poverty led by those in poverty.
Mitchell Watson attended Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, and went on to study at the University of Tennessee, participating as a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mathematics. From there, he became a U.S. Army officer at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where he served on the rocket development team led by Wernher von Braun and instructed Mathematics at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Mitchell enjoyed a long career with IBM; upon honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Knoxville and worked with IBM for seven years managing computer systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before becoming an IBM branch manager. From there, he held various positions, including IBM’s Director of Communications at the beautiful I.M. Pei-designed telecommunications laboratory at La Gaude, France.
In 1974, Mitchell took over operations for IBM at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Eventually, he was named President of the IBM Systems Product Division and elected an IBM Vice President in 1981. As Vice President of Marketing and Service from 1985-1988, he played a leadership role in bringing IBM’s first personal computer to market. In 1989, he assumed the post of President and Chief Executive Officer of ROLM Company, a joint venture between IBM and Siemens AG to bring integrated computer and telecommunications technology to the U.S. He remained at the helm of ROLM until it was sold in 1992. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell and his good friend Doug Lind founded The Sigma Group of America, a management consulting company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mitchell served as President.
Mitchell Watson held leadership positions on numerous corporate and non-profit boards and foundations, including Community Health Systems, The University of North Carolina at Asheville Foundation, Praxair, Johnson C. Smith Seminary of Atlanta, and Urban Youth Impact in Palm Beach, Florida. He also served as President of Helen Keller International and as a Trustee of the Interdenominational Theology Center at Atlanta University.
Mr. Watson is survived by his wife, Katherine Stickley Watson (Kate), as well as their two children and spouses: Harry Mitchell Watson, III (Hal) and his wife Maggie, and Katherine Elizabeth Welsch (Elise) and her husband, Chris. In addition, he leaves behind grandchildren Maura Watson-Rocha and her husband Diogo, Joshua Welsch and his wife Faith, Garth Watson, Jessica Kate Letkemann-Welsch and her husband Jake, and Seth Watson.
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, memorial donations can be made to Christ School, 500 Christ School Rd, Arden, NC 28705, The Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801, or Camp Boggy Creek (for children with serious medical illnesses), 30500 Brantley Branch Rd, Eustis, FL 32736.
H. Mitchell Watson, Jr. will be interred at his family plot at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, TN, on Thursday, February 29, in a private ceremony.
A service to commemorate his memory and celebrate his life will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, TN, on Saturday, March 23, at 4 pm. Light refreshments will follow.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
The Memorial Service
4:00 pm
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1573 N Highland Ave
Jackson, Tennessee 38301
Liz Theoharis
Friend
03/04/2024
So much love and appreciation for H. Mitchell Watson from the Poverty Initiative and Kairos Center team!
Mitchell was kind, generous, adventurous, creative, and a true friend and mentor to us all. He embodied the 4 Cs of leadership that we uphold – conscience, capability, commitment, and connection.
His willingness to travel to West Virginia with students and community members, to invite us to North Carolina and West Palm in Florida to network with churches and community programs, to gather at Union Theological Seminary and throughout New York for symposia and classes all spread the good news that we can indeed end poverty!
Thank you, Mitchell, and to your wife, Kate, and your children! Your memory and good deeds will always be with us – Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis.
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