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Self-proclaimed ‘luckiest man in Jackson County’ to retire
By Lynn Hotaling
Frank Watson Jr., the self-proclaimed “luckiest man in Jackson County,” plans to retire today (Thursday) from the post he’s held for almost 26 years.
First chosen Clerk of Court in 1978, Watson, a Democrat, has prevailed in seven straight elections, a feat made a little easier by the fact that he faced no opposition in the last five.
Watson, a Cullowhee native who took office Dec. 1, 1978, said he’s been thinking about retirement for about a year and made his decision this summer while his kids were on vacation from school.
Retiring Clerk of Court Frank Watson Jr., seated, goes over some documents with new Clerk Ann Melton, who was named to the position by Resident Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt. Watson, who has been elected clerk seven times, is stepping down today (Thursday) after almost 26 years. His office will host a reception in his honor this afternoon from 2 until 6:30 p.m. in the Justice Center’s second-floor lobby. The public is invited. – Herald photo by Lynn Hotaling
“I spent a lot of time with them, and I realized they’ll be gone soon,” Watson said. “I decided to retire to spend more time with my family.”
That family includes wife Donna, children Shawn, Autumn, Whitney and Zack, and his mother, still in good heath in her 80s.
A graduate of Western Carolina University, Watson worked for Jackson County in the accounting office before seeking the clerk’s post. When longtime Clerk Margaret Henson decided against seeking another term, he tossed his hat into the ring.
“I got interested in politics,” he said.
His opposition in the Democratic primary was the late Martha Queen, who was chairman of the Jackson County Board of Education when she died in 2002.
Watson credits his success in his first political race to the time he spent going door-to-door in every community of the county.
“I went from one end of the county to the other, every night and on Saturdays,” Watson said. “I learned so much, and people were so gracious to me.”
According to Watson, he would pitch in at whatever chore was going on at the homes he visited.
“If they were busting wood, I’d bust wood,” he said.
Watson won a vote on Caney Fork by helping catch a pig and another from J.L. Burgess at Fort Tomahawk when he assisted in the unloading of a truck.
“Son, I’m going to vote for you,” Burgess told him when the truck was empty.
“I have the greatest memories of that first campaign,” Watson said. “Once you get into office and you get to know a lot of people, you don’t have to do so much of that.”
Watson had high praise for his predecessor.
“Mrs. Henson was so complimentary of me,” he said. “When she retired, she was through – she didn’t call and tell me how to do things.”
No special training is required to run for Clerk of Court, Watson said, but once elected, the office must be administered according to state statutes.
As to job security, Watson said he believes people make good choices.
“I believe the electorate is informed,” he said. “If they don’t think you’re doing a good job, they’ll send you to the house. I think the electorate is a pretty good watchdog.”
Though he’s never lost an election, Watson says he has no plans to run for any other office.
“I feel so lucky – so fortunate – to have had this wonderful job and serve citizens who have been so supportive,” Watson said.
The veteran clerk also credits his staff for his success in the job.
“I’ve had the best help in the world,” Watson said.
According to Watson, his greatest asset is his ability to hire competent people.
“I first hired a church secretary, Othello Crawford,” Watson said. “I told her, ‘All you have to do is a little filing.’ We both found out there was a lot more to do than that.”
Watson has seen the clerk’s office grow from a staff of four to 10 and make the transition from typewriters to computers. He also oversaw the 1994 move from Jackson County’s historic courthouse to the Justice Center.
“I still miss the old courthouse, though we badly needed new facilities,” he said.
Through all the modernization of the clerk’s office, Watson has resisted voice mail.
“We don’t have voice mail,” he said. “I’m very proud of that. This is a government office, and it’s important for callers to speak with a real person.”
The work load has increased over the years, he said. Where court used to be held only every other week, there’s now one or two courts in session almost every day.
Looking back over the years, he said the hardest part of the job had been seeing people suffer through bad times.
“My heart goes out to them,” he said. “I’ve seen children in situations they have no control over, like domestic violence, substance abuse or custody battles.”
Watson also said his job can involve difficult decisions in cases of competence or foreclosure.
Overall, however, the jovial clerk seemed more interested in talking about the parts of the work he enjoys.
“The best part is meeting and talking to people,” he said. “I learn something from everybody I talk to. And there’s always two sides to every story.”
Another thing he particularly enjoyed was taking school children on Justice Center tours. He would show the students around and conduct mock trials in the courtroom, he said.
Watson said he also derived satisfaction from guiding people through unfamiliar situations, such as handling estates.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” he said.
Watson’s successor will be Ann Melton, a 22- year veteran of the clerk’s office who was appointed to succeed Watson by Resident Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt.
“I’m leaving the office in good hands,” Watson said of Melton. “She started work here 22 years ago in a job nobody else wanted – she has the greatest work ethic of anyone I know.
“Ann has done every job in this office, and she’ll do a wonderful job as clerk,” Watson said.
For her part, Melton returns Watson’s admiration.
“Frank is the most wonderful boss you could ask for,” Melton said of Watson. “He’s very understanding, and he recognizes all of us for what we do.”
Though Watson will be missed, the clerk’s office will remain in capable hands. The deputy and assistant clerks have 46.5 years of service between them, she said.
Melton said she plans to maintain a hands-on approach to managing the office and keep the public up to date on available services.
“Continuing to provide Jackson County with a clerk’s office that has an open-door policy will be a priority,” she said. “I want folks to be comfortable in the office and approach me with their issues.”
Just as Watson expressed his gratitude for his 26 years as clerk, Melton said she appreciates the opportunity to serve.
“I’m grateful to have the job as clerk and appreciate the confidence Judge Hyatt has placed in me,” she said. “This is a position I’ve worked toward since I began here, and I will work hard to serve the people and maintain the honesty and integrity by which Frank ran the office.”
Melton, the daughter of Ford and Dot Deitz of Savannah community, is married to Phillip Melton. They have a daughter, Majestic, and a son, Tyler. A Southwestern Community College graduate, Melton recently completed the public manager program offered by the North Carolina Office of Personnel.
“Working hard is nothing new to me,” Melton said. “I am glad to have this job and will work even harder to keep it.”
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