from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Jerry Norman Watson, 72, born and raised in Cornish, Maine, died Nov. 17, 2011, surrounded by his wife and children.

Mr. Watson (commonly called Butch), was the son of Norman and Nathelene Watson. He grew up in Cornish where he rode horses, played sports, and worked on the family farm. He enlisted in the Navy for six years and loved seeing the world upon the USS F.D. Roosevelt. Upon his discharge in 1964, as a Vietnam veteran, he returned to his hometown where he started training and driving Standardbreds.

His first race horse was a 10-year-old mare that had never raced and he won his first start with her. He went on race his own stable in New York and was an honorary member of the police force there.

Mr. Watson returned to Maine when his father got hurt and remained in the family racing business, training and driving horses up and down the East Coast. In 1975 he once again had his own stable and continued racing mainly in New England, where he was nicknamed “Joltin’ Jerry” by the racing announcers. He continued to train and drive for not only himself but for many horsemen and owners.

He was a member of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and the United States Trotting Association.

Mr. Watson is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cheri; children, Charles Edward, Veronica Leslie Lynn (Thomas) Landry, Candy Lyn Bishop (Steve Barton), Jesse James (Dawn), Norman Jerry (Bettina) and Ray Lyn (Karen); sisters, Diann (Linwood) Perkins and Suzanne (Bernon) Madore; brothers, Nicholas and James; 15 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.

There will be no funeral, but there will be a gathering for family and friends in the Spring to be announced at a later date.