The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-12
YDE WATERS,
BRISTOL,DIES
Outstanding Sports Ref
cree Succunlbs Suddenly
at Home at 81

Bristol, May l2.--Clyde M. wa
tiers, So, of ~ Jerome avenue, ma.
tionally known intercollegiate foot
ball official and one of the out
standing athletes Of all time at VII.
liams College, died suddenly this af-
ternoon at his home. He was at his
Job at New Departure Wednesday,
but complained Of feeling Ill yes
terday and did not report for work.
A sports official for % years,
Clyde Waters worked some Of the
biggest football games in the his
tory Of the sport. On four occasions
he had assignments, twice as referee
and twice as field Judge, in what is
regarded as the classic Of collegiate
football, the Army-Navy game.
In one Of his few public appear
arces, Mr.. Waters said early last
winter that among his two biggest
thrills was the Army-Notre Dame
game in New York in 1888 in which
Notre Dame won 1912 after trailing
at the half 1910. The other expert
ence, he said, was the Pittsburgh
Minnesota clash at Pittsburgh in
1884 which Pittsburgh won, 1877.
Clyde Waters was born October 20,
1889 In Kingsville, Ohio, and was
graduated from williams In 1908. At
williams he was a four sports star
for four years, winning letters IN
football, hockey, baseball and bas-
ketball.
Upon his graduation he was
signed by the New York Yankees
for q professional baseball career.
He played with Montreal In the
International League for two years
and was with New Haven In the
Eastern League as catcher for six
years. After he left professional
baseball, clyde played semi-pro
football and baseball for q number
Of seasons. He caught for the old
New Haven Colonials, q team which
was managed at that time by
George Weiss, now connected with
the New York Yankees organiSa-
ton.
Clyde came to Bristol to become
associated with New Departure d.
vision Of General Motors in 1918
and until late in the l920's he caught
for the New Departure team which
was one OF the best semi-pro organ
izatione in New England. Despite
the fact that later he was to be-
come one Of the greatest sports Of
ficials, Clyde in those days was
known as an umpire batter Of the
first order.
He was an intercollegiate football
ofncial for % years and annually
worked some Of the most important
games In the East. He started his
career as q high school official, ref
ereeing contests for his life long
friend and admirer, Thomas M.
Monahan, Bristol high school ath-
letic director. On numerous occa-
sions Honahan conferred with Clyde
on the baseball and football rules
In regard to whether or not a GER
tain play was legal. Once Clyde
said the word, that was final as far
as Monahan was concerned.
A family spokesman said that Wa
tiers had received q ten-game assign
ment Of college football games for
the 1914 season only q few days
before his death. Two games at the
Yale Bowl, and two at Dartmouth
were included, the spokesman said.
Waters had confided to intimates
that he intended to retire from
officiating at the conclusion Of the
1913 season but, the spokesman said,
he had accepted the 1914 assign
mentS.
Clyde's last football assignment
was the Army Navy game last Mo-
vember 20 at which he was field
Judge. Until he retired from the
field a few years ago, Clyde was one
Of the most popular basketball of
ficials in the state. He handled dur
ing q season six or more games q
week, both high school, collegiate
and independent. He was an hon.
orary member Of the Central Board
Of Approved Basketball Officials.
Mr.. Waters work at New Depar-
ture was that Of lineman, a SUI
pervisor. He was member Of the
Town Club, his only outside &C
tivity.
Mr.. Waters leaves his wife, Kath-
crime; two daughters, Mrs. Mar
jorie johnson Of washington, D. c.,
and Mrs. Edith Engels Of Pequa-
buck; a brother, Frank Waters Of
Obland, Ohia, and two sisters, Mrs.
Orlin Blancherd Of Warren. Ohio,
and Mrs. Carl Sly Of Lorraine, Ohio.
The funeral arrangements are in