G. Harold Watkins

G. Harold Watkins (January 3, 1903 - August 4, 1991) was a Republican who served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1941 to 1944 and as a Commonwealth Judge from 1957 until 1978.

G. Harold Watkins
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 29th district
In office 1941–1944
Preceded by	Joseph P. Dando
Succeeded by	Paul L. Wagner
Personal details
Born	January 3, 1903 Girardville, Pennsylvania
Died	August 4, 1991 Ashland, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican

Watkins was born in Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania to George H. Watkins and Florence M. Sykes, his wife. He married Nellie Benashumas (1911-2005) of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Watkins graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1924 and earned a law degree from Harvard University in 1929.[1]

From 1930, Watkins practiced law in Girardville before being elected to the senate. Afterwards he was active in politics, having served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania in 1948, 1952, 1956; chair of Schuylkill County Republican Party in 1953;[2] secretary for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1953; and superior court judge in Pennsylvania from 1957 until 1978 where he was the President Judge, his last four years.[3] He continued to hear cases as a senior judge until 1989.[4]

Watkins and his wife had a daughter, Pamela Watkins (born 1943), who in 1968, married Frederick H. Hobbs (1934-2005), who was also a State Senator from the 29th District.[5]

Watkins died in 1991 in Ashland, Pennsylvania.[6]

References

1. The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 8, 1991, Obituaries, p. B10
2. Political Graveyard
3. Pennsylvania State Senate Biography
4. The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 8, 1991, Obituaries, p. B10
5. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Watkins-Rhoades-Hobbs family of Pennsylvania". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
6. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014