G. Harold Watkins
Quick Facts
Biography
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.
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.
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; 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. He continued to hear cases as a senior judge until 1989.
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.
Watkins died in 1991 in Ashland, Pennsylvania.