Burl S. Watson
Encyclopedia
Burl Stevens Watson, Sr. (7 Nov 1893- 16 Aug 1975) was the President and CEO of Cities Service Company during parts of the 1950s and 1960s. He became President in 1954 and was Chairman of the Board and CEO beginning in 1962, taking the place of W. Alton Jones
, who died in the famous plane crash American Airlines Flight 1
. Watson was extremely influential as the leader of one of the largest oil companies in the United States. He was quoted often in newspaper and magazine publications on his views on the status of the petroleum industry and served as a national leader of the American Red Cross
and Salvation Army
. Born in the small town of Lincoln, Alabama
to farmer Byron Alexander Stephens Watson, he was the first graduate of Lincoln High School and went on to the University of Alabama
, where he majored in electrical engineering. There is a scholarship in his name at Alabama to this day due to a donation he made to the university, which was later enhanced by Cities Service Company. After serving in the Army Engineer Corps during World War I
, he rose through the ranks of the large corporation, eventually moving to New York City
and working at the corporate office. He married Emitom Burns, daughter of state senator and agricultural innovator Robert Burns. They had two children, including Burl Stevens Watson, Jr., who went on to become Director of Corporate Finance of Cities Service Company. Burl Sr. had an oil tanker named after him, called the "Burl S. Watson," which was built at the Sörviksvarvet A/B shipyard at Uddevalla, Sweden, being released for duty in 1961. He died in 1975 in Port Washington, New York
, at the age of 81.
W. Alton Jones
W. Alton Jones , who served as president of the oil and gas conglomerate Cities Service Company , was an influential industrialist, philanthropist, and close personal friend of United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower....
, who died in the famous plane crash American Airlines Flight 1
American Airlines Flight 1
American Airlines Flight 1 was a domestic, scheduled passenger flight from New York International Airport , New York to Los Angeles International Airport, California that crashed shortly after take-off on 1 March 1962. All 87 passengers and eight crew died in the crash...
. Watson was extremely influential as the leader of one of the largest oil companies in the United States. He was quoted often in newspaper and magazine publications on his views on the status of the petroleum industry and served as a national leader of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
and Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. Born in the small town of Lincoln, Alabama
Lincoln, Alabama
Lincoln is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,577. It was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War.-Geography:...
to farmer Byron Alexander Stephens Watson, he was the first graduate of Lincoln High School and went on to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he majored in electrical engineering. There is a scholarship in his name at Alabama to this day due to a donation he made to the university, which was later enhanced by Cities Service Company. After serving in the Army Engineer Corps during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he rose through the ranks of the large corporation, eventually moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and working at the corporate office. He married Emitom Burns, daughter of state senator and agricultural innovator Robert Burns. They had two children, including Burl Stevens Watson, Jr., who went on to become Director of Corporate Finance of Cities Service Company. Burl Sr. had an oil tanker named after him, called the "Burl S. Watson," which was built at the Sörviksvarvet A/B shipyard at Uddevalla, Sweden, being released for duty in 1961. He died in 1975 in Port Washington, New York
Port Washington, New York
Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the community population was 15,846....
, at the age of 81.
External links
- Article in Time Magazine from 1961
- The Ship W. Alton Jones and the Ship Burl S. Watson
- The Lincoln, Alabama website, citing Burl S. Watson as notable graduate
- Cities Service Ends Joint Venture with Conoco
- Photo of the Cities Service Oil Tanker "Burl S. Watson"
- Note the large Cities Service advertisement on page two, with Burl S. Watson as President
- Burl S. Watson inducting Billy Graham into the New York Southerners' Society