Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20
Thomos ]. Watson Dies:
Headed Boord Of IBM

InOmaS j. watson, %, cnalrmaIl
Of the board of the international
Business Machines Corp. died of
a heart attack yesterday at
Roosevelt Hospital.
Mr.. Watson had been active
until recently in the affairs Of
the business he built up from
a comparatively small concern to
a worldwide enterprise. He took
part in its annual meeting April
"a.
Recently he had complained
of what appeared to be a d.
gestive upset, and went to the
hospital last Sunday from his
summer home at New Canaan.
Conn.
Family With Him
Members Of his immediate
family were with him when he
died.
They included his widow, the
former jeanette K. Kittredge,
daughter of an Ohio Industrial
list, and their four children,
Thomas J. Watson, jr., president
of IBM: Arthur K. Watson, pres
ident Of IBM World Trade Corp;
Mrs. John N. Irwin II of New
York and Mrs. Walker G. Buck
ner of Bronxville, N. Y.
In addition, Mr.. Watson is
survived by Is grandchildren.
Last may Mr.. Watson stepped
down as chief executive officer
of IBM and turned that job over
to his son, Thomas j.. Watson,
jr. However. he cintinued on as
chairman of the board.
Praised by Eisenhower
From his hospital bed at Wal
ter Reed Army Hospital, Presi-
dent Eisenhower issued this
statement:
In the passing of Thomas J.
Watson, the Nation has lost a
truly fine American-an indus
trialist who was first of all a
great \ citizen and a great
humanitarian. I have lost a
good friend whose counsel was
always marked by a deep-seated
concern for people.
MRS. Eisenhower and I join
with the many thousands Of his
friends in many countries in ex-
tending our heartfelt sympathy
to Mrs. Watson and her family"
White House Press Secretary
James C. Hagerty said that
Mrs. Eisenhower, on behalf of
the President and herself, also
sent personal hand-written
letter to Mr.. Watson's wife.
Thomas j. Watson, often
termed "the worlds greatest
salesman" started his career as
a $6-a-week bookkeeper on a
Friday the 18th and became one
Of the Nations top executives.
For years prior to voluntary re-
duction In his rate Of compensa-
ton his salary, as reported by
the Treasury Department, .ex-
ceeded $425.000 a year.
Leading Art Collector
AlonA with business Mr.. Wat
son TOOK an active interest in
world peace. education, art-he
vas one of the worlds leading
collectors-and the betterment
of human relations. His biogra-
ply in Who's Who in America
was the longest of the more than
10000 persons included-it filled
1877 lines in the 1950-51 volume.
Some twoscore foreign nations
awarded him decorations in rec
ognition Of his accomplishments.
In 1887 Mr.. Watson was elected
president Of the International
Chamber of Commerce. Upon
completion of his two-year term
he became permanent honorary
president. His slogan, World
Peace Through World Trade"
became widely known.
Born in the village OF Camp
bell. N. Y. February II, 1874,
Mr.. Watson attended Addison
Academy and the Elmira IN. "
School of Commerce for a year
Turned to Selling
Then he went to work as a
bookkeeper for a market in
Painted Post, N. Y, but soon de-
cided selling was his vocation.
For two years he worked for a
hardware dealer in the same viii
lage, selling musical instruments
Then he Joined the National
Cash Register Co. as a salesman
in Buffalo. For several weeks he
failed to make a sale. But when
he hit his stride he moved fast
He remained with the COM
pany for 10 years, rising to gen.