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Longtime community leader, YSU benefactor remembered
and Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
After a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Frank Charles Watson – also known as “Dude” – died at age 92 Thursday at his Canfield home.
Watson, a lover and graduate of Youngstown State University, a philanthropist, family man and local leader, wore his hard-working demeanor and pride on his sleeve throughout his life.
Watson’s nickname, “Dude,” was coined from his daughter Ellen Tressel’s son, Eric.
“My son put that handle on him when he was 5, and it stuck ever since,” she said.
Ellen Tressel, wife of YSU President Jim Tressel, said Watson didn’t just wear his nickname with pride, but also his alma mater.
“He was always involved with YSU after he graduated,” said Jim Tressel. “To this day, he has a YSU flag flying in the driveway.”
Watson, originally from New York, graduated from Youngstown College in 1949 with a bachelor’s in engineering after serving in the Navy from 1943 through 1946 during World War II. He was president of Youngstown Welding and Engineering Co. from 1959 to 1988.
Watson was active in the community as a member and leader of several organizations.
In 1964, he became president of the Greater Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, referred to Watson as a true leader.
“His impact to the community and contributions to the community were numerous, to say the least,” Humphries said.
From 1978 to 1987, Watson was a member of the YSU Board of Trustees and is one of the original members of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees. He led the 1970s fundraising campaign for the construction of Stambaugh Stadium.
More than $16 million was raised for its construction.
After it was built, Watson bought a loge, and he is its only remaining original owner since 1982.
“He’s been to every home game in the stadium since,” Ellen Tressel said. “It’s just that he knew the importance of YSU to the city and he loved it.”
In 1976, Watson spoke at YSU’s commencement and was presented with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Howard Jones.
In 1987, the chamber honored Watson with the Youngstowner Award.
In 2003, Watson received the citizen of the year award, the highest honor bestowed by YSU.
Also that year, Watson was named the featured speaker at YSU’s summer commencement, where he told the graduates to “never stop learning.”
Watson and his wife, Norma, gifted more than $3 million to YSU and the YSU Foundation including $125,000 in 2003 for a student recreation center in Kilcawley Center.
“Our community is only going to be as strong as our university,” Frank Watson said at the time. “This project certainly makes our university a much stronger institution.”
The Watsons donated $1 million in 2016 to support the development of a new Student Success Center on campus.
“He was just extremely generous to the university as well as others,” said Ron Cole, YSU spokesman.
Ellen Tressel agreed.
“He was just great,” she said. “He was a great mentor, a great leader and great dad.”
Ellen Tressel, a former YSU synchronized swimmer, said she’ll most miss swimming with him every day.
“We were a faithful swimming team,” she said.
The Watsons were married for almost 68 years. They have another daughter, Janet Stephens, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Their son, David, is deceased.
A public memorial service for Watson will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at The Watson and Tressel Training Site at YSU.