Richard O. Watson

My utmost respect to one of the most genteel persons in the community. A true southern gentleman who left this legacy to his children! One of the great men of St Augustine, Florida!

I have just heard of Judge Watson's passing. My sincere condolences to his wife and family. I remember fondly when many years ago, I served as a felony court clerk in his courtroom. He presided in a dignified, sometimes stern, but in a fair and compassionate manner. Anyone standing before the bench was an equal in his court. Judge Watson was a great light to all of those he touched, including me. It is an honor to have known him.

Judge Watson was a great man. I will miss him. He meant a lot to my family. He was always very kind. My prayers go out to his family. I am so sorry for your loss.

There has been a special place in my heart for Judge Watson since he took a chance on a recent high school graduate to work in his office at Coxe and Stephens. I worked for him for two summers between sessions at UF and came away with a deep respect for him, especially for his integrity and compassion. He encouraged me to believe in myself and taught me that hard work could accomplish almost anything. My sincerest condolences to his family.

I had the honor of working with Judge Watson in his Court Room for several years. He set the tone for the whole judical system in St. Johns County and we can all be proud of his work as Chief Judge and his extensive involvement in community affairs. My thoughts and prays go out to his family. He will be greatly missed.

To know Richard Watson was to feel as if you had a new friend. No matter how far down the pecking order you may have felt entering his courtroom, at some time you would end up feeling as if you were the most important person there. At the worst time of my life I was uplifted by his words and those words spoken 6 years ago still ring in my thoughts today! I will miss how he genuinely and sincerely greeted me and asked about my family at each chance encounter. I am deeply saddened for his family and close friends and will grieve for myself and the 1000's of others who will miss his encouraging smiles and greetings.
One of my mentors taught me to leave each person, place or thing better off for your having been there. Richard was the epitome of living that lesson. I hope that before I leave that I could do it half as well as he has done

Judge Richard Watson was the fairest and honest person in the system and out of the system. He upfront, he was more like a father figure when handling cases, he had love, tact, that made a person feel accountable for their actions, but always left room that you can be a better person. It was an honor to have worked under and with him in court.

To the Watson Family: Although I never had the pleasure to meet each of you, I feel that I have known you for many years. I served as a Deputy Official Court Reporter for "Da Juj" here in St. Augustine and always held in highest esteem his honor, quick thinking, wonderful sense of humor, respect, fairness and deep compassion for the woes that, but for the grace of God, befall us all. I became ill and was forced to retire from this position ten years ago, although he and I have stayed in touch over the years.

I cannot even begin, in my faltering command of the English language, to express to each of you what beauty, grace and blessings Judge Watson brought into my life. He is, without exception, one of the finest human beings I have ever been privileged to know, and I am honored to call him my friend.

My heart is and will remain forever broken for each of you, as I also know the pain of losing loved ones, too. It is a void that can never be filled, and I am so very, very sorry for your loss.

I pray the Good Lord will bless and keep each and every one of you. May you find solace in knowing he is in a better place with His Father now. I can see him even now, smiling down and deeply touched to see all the kindnesses that have been extended to you, and I know in my heart - and will ALWAYS remember - the innumerable kindnesses he extended to me. He was a wise man full of grace, and I have never met anyone else in my life for whom I had greater admiration.

May God place His loving arms around you all, comforting where words cannot. I know he is up there, too.

My words fail to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to all of you. You were blessed to have Dick in your lives. Please try not to cry because he seems to be gone. He is not. He will be with you always, and for that you are richly blessed.

With love and deepest sorrow,

My the lord be with you and continue with you.

As a private citizen of St. Augustine,and former client, I can say that judge Watson was one of the most genteel and illustrous men of whom this city may boast. He served his country, state, and city magnificently. My prayers are with his family.

Dearest Richard & Lynn Please know that we are here for you. May the Love of God, family & friends be your strength in this time of loss.

.In memory of one of the most honorable and fair Judges to ever sit on the bench of any courtroom .A friend of William V Eddy Deputy Sheriff St Johns County.
By
William R Eddy

Richard & Jeff,

From our family to yours, our sincerest condolences for your loss.

Our high school football years together were great! Our prayers are with you and your family. Please accept our deepest sympathy.

To the watson family, i extend my hand in prayer and wish that you always treasure and cherish the wonderful memories you created over the years.
my parents, ted and mollie pellicer were friends with the judge and i knew him while growing up. A stern talk from him one day helped me to stay on the right path, and for that i will be eternally thankful.

We will always be honoured to have had Judge Watson as our marriage celebrant. We are sad for the loss of such a great friend to our entire extended family and to all those who shared his amazing life. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his family and loved ones.

Dear Richard and Lynn, May God give you peace in your time of sorrow.

Dear Mrs. Watson my deepest to your and your family. Your loss obviously if felt by all who knew Judge Watson. The Judge and I have been friends since 1971 and my life and career was enriched by being associated with him. He was a man of integrity, honor, and compassion for his fellowman. May God bless you all.

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Dearest Peggy and Family, Dick will be in our prayers and our Happy Memories of Smiles and Laughter recalling Friendship and Tennis through the years past with Tommy. May they meet with kind regards and smile on us with Guardians Warm. Love to You Always, Sylvia,Dana, and Juliane Mickler

Judge Watson was as sharp, prepared, and decisive as a Judge could be and it was a great learning experience to appear before him or to be in his presence. A terrific man with a wicked sense of humor. He will be missed by all of us in the Seventh Circuit.
I wish the very best for his family and close friends.

My life has certainly been blessed by knowing and working with Judge Watson. For such a stern Judge, he was beyond kind, funny, and amusing at times. He always had a smile on his face and love in his heart for his co-workers. He will be sorely missed.

Judge Watson was honorable man & a true friend. He was admired by all

I had the honor of serving as bailiff for Judge Watson in Flagler County when he presided as senior judge. His fairness and ability to see and subsequently administer justice was legendary .I for one will miss him both personally and professionally.My deepest sympathy to the Watson family.Lt. Zane A. Kelley Flagler County Sheriff's office

May you and your family have peace during these hard times.

To the Watson family: my condolences to each of you. I'll always remember Dick as he has been described by others. Times of remembrance for me will be our association in Toastmasters, Chamber of Commerce and Marineland. He was always an "encourager" as I will always remember his support for Kathy, my boys and myself over the years.

Judge Watson presided over the first jury trial I ever saw as a law student and I had the privilege of working with him as a senior judge in Tallahassee. He was an example for every person who aspires to work in the law. I miss him.

Judge Watson always treated you with respect and dignity, of course he could put you in your place but then he would come over put his arms around your shoulder and talk to you about how to do it better next time. It was an honor and great pleasure to have worked with him and I will remember his wisdom, humility and humor for the rest of my life. God Bless his family.
Lisa Brinkhoff Sanders

Peggy, my sympathy to you and your family. Even though I didn,t know Dick personally, I have heard so many good things he did for the community and humanity.

Judge Watson, was a compassionate and brilliant judge to appear before as a new attorney handling juvenile dependency matters in the early 1990's. I will always remember his fairness and integrity. My condolences to his family.

With great respect and admiration.
Roger Williams

Judge Watson will long be remembered for his kind and fair manner of administering justice. Those of us in the Fourth Judicial Circuit were privileged to serve before him in many cases during his Senior Judge tenure. We have the utmost respect for him as a jurist and as a person. May God bless all who loved him and our special prayers will be with his family during this time.

Most sincerely,
Angela Corey
State Attorney's Office

Judge Watson was so kind to my mother when she worked in Child Support years ago. She is in Assisted Living now and a picture of "The Judge" (as she always calls him) is tacked to her bullentin board. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Watson Family.

A fine classmate in Grammer School and Camp Mate at Camp Weed

Dear Peggy, Please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your family. Dick was a wonderful human being. With affection, Susannah Howatt Castle

RIP Sailor and thank you for your service.

It is truly an honor to have known Judge Watson. He was an oustanding Jurist, and well admired by many. His presense will still be felt for years to come, although he is gone too soon.