Tom Watson: The World's Most Internationally Honored Businessman
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Date Published: January 1, 2024
Date Modified: June 5, 2026 |
The following are some of the expressions of appreciation expressed in more than forty decorations given to Thomas J. Watson Sr. from 1937 through 1955:
- “To reward a good friend of our country [Dominican Republic] and acknowledgement of your noble endeavors in behalf of Pan-Americanism—the political gospel of the New World.”
- “To express the high esteem of the Government of Haiti for the service which you have rendered.”
- “The people of Athens vote and proclaim as a token of honor and gratitude Thomas J. Watson as Honorary Citizen of Athens [other Honorary Citizens included Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and David Lloyd George] for his valuable and excellent services which he offered to the Greek Nation.”
- “In recognition of Mr. Watson’s efforts in promoting cooperation and good relations between Chile and the U.S..”
- The Salvation Army for his “devotion to the cause of peace, his support of education, and his unwavering adherence to spiritual ideals and moral principles, in bringing to the people of all nations recognition of the essential dignity of man.”
- To recognize both Mr. and Mrs. Watson as “longtime friends of the Greek people.”
- For “furthering international good fellowship and understanding, not only in South America [Peru] but the whole world.”
Insights into Thomas J. Watson Sr., Traditional Founder of IBM from
"THINK Again!: 20th Century Ideas and High Ideals for the 21st Century"
"THINK Again!: 20th Century Ideas and High Ideals for the 21st Century"
The International Community Recognized Tom Watson as an Exemplary Man
(1937 through 1955)
(1937 through 1955)
This is a partial list of Thomas J. Watson Sr.'s international awards that few other 20th Century business figures have matched. The date, country, and name of the award presented is provided:
- 1937 Germany: Merit Cross of the German Eagle with Star (returned June 1940)
- 1937 Sweden: Order of Vasa, Cross of Commander, First Class
- 1937 Yugoslavia: Order of the Yugoslav Crown, Commander First Class
- 1937 Belgium: Order of the Crown of Belgium, Commander
- 1938 Finland: Order of the White Rose, Grand Officer, Commander 1st Class
- 1938 Greece: Royal Order of George I, Cross of Commander
- 1939 Cambodia: Grande Croix de Cambodge
- 1939 Brazil: National Order of the Southern Cross, Commander
- 1939 Denmark: Royal Order of Dannebrog, Commander, First Grade/Class
- 1939 Hungary: Cordon of the Grande Croix
- 1939 Portugal: Ancient and Most Noble Order of Christ, Commander
- 1940 Ecuador: National Order of Merit, Officer
- 1940 United States: Captain Robert Dollar Memorial Award
- 1943 Ecuador: National Order of Merit, Grand Officer
- 1943 Bolivia: Condor of the Andes
- 1943 Peru: Order of the Sun, Grand Officer (highest civilian award)
- 1944 Dominican Republic: Order of Merit Juan Pablo Duarte, Cavalier
- 1944 Republic of Haiti: National Order of Honor and Merit, Grand Officer
- 1945 Venezuela: Order del Libertado, Commander
- 1945 Athens, Greece: Honorary Citizen of Athens
- 1946 Paraguay: National Order of Merit, Commander
- 1946 Cuba: Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Knight Commander
- 1947 Mexico: Order of the Aztec Eagle
- 1947 United States: Medal for Merit (highest civilian award) (select link to read)
- 1948 Britain: Order of the British Empire, Honorary Commander
- 1948 China: Order of Ching Hsin, Auspicious Star
- 1949 Republic of Panama: Eloy Alfaro International Foundation Cross
- 1949 United States: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Citation
- 1950 Americas: First Arbitration Association International Award
- 1950 Lima, Peru: Honorary Citizen
- 1951 Chile: O’Higgins Order of Merit, Grand Officer Class (highest civilian award)
- 1952 United States: American Foundation for the Blind Migel Medal
- 1953 Italy: Order of the Stella della Solidarieta Italia (highest civilian award)
- 1953 United States: Annual National American Legion Citation
- 1953 United States: The Salvation Army Pinnacle of Achievement Award
- 1954 Greece: Royal Order of George I, Grand Commander
- 1955 United States: Yeshiva University, Charter Day Award
The New York Times wrote of Tom Watson after his death in 1956 that “for some men honors are tardily bestowed. This was not the case with Thomas J. Watson, for the world had long felt and expressed its warm appreciation.”
Too many times society misses the opportunity to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of our most exemplary leaders as we delay too long in the declaration; or we have great individuals taken from us too soon; or we allow cynics to distort facts—after their deaths, which denies such individuals their proper standing in history. This is a great loss for society—and for our children and grandchildren, as we lose great male and outstanding female role models for generations to come. It is difficult, but history can capture and reveal those with true character while also being realistic about an individual’s very-human, yet acceptable, flaws and shortcomings.
Plato is quoted in the introduction to THINK Again!: 20th Century Ideas and Ideals for the 21st Century: “When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.”
Plato, known for picking his words carefully, chose the word “when” not “if.”
Tom Watson’s life story has been subjected to calumny—the act of misrepresenting an individual’s actions in such a way as to harm their reputation. To confront one such claim, these are a few of the honors bestowed on him. This list starts with the first—and the single medal—that is too often over-emphasized: The Merit Cross of the German Eagle with Star. After receiving this award, Tom Watson spent four months in Europe as the head of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). He visited the European capitals of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Rome, Belgrade, Sofia, The Hague, and Brussels, delivering his message of “World Peace through World Trade.” In recognition of his two-year leadership of the ICC, he received ten additional awards--many were from future allies in our war against fascism. This more factually-complete list puts into a non-calumnious perspective the one award that Tom Watson—singularly and quite publicly, returned to its fascist owner.
Hopefully, this list will convince the reader that Tom Watson lived his life so that they may, in turn, rightfully question those who write ill of him today.
He was a man of his times—a good man!
Too many times society misses the opportunity to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of our most exemplary leaders as we delay too long in the declaration; or we have great individuals taken from us too soon; or we allow cynics to distort facts—after their deaths, which denies such individuals their proper standing in history. This is a great loss for society—and for our children and grandchildren, as we lose great male and outstanding female role models for generations to come. It is difficult, but history can capture and reveal those with true character while also being realistic about an individual’s very-human, yet acceptable, flaws and shortcomings.
Plato is quoted in the introduction to THINK Again!: 20th Century Ideas and Ideals for the 21st Century: “When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.”
Plato, known for picking his words carefully, chose the word “when” not “if.”
Tom Watson’s life story has been subjected to calumny—the act of misrepresenting an individual’s actions in such a way as to harm their reputation. To confront one such claim, these are a few of the honors bestowed on him. This list starts with the first—and the single medal—that is too often over-emphasized: The Merit Cross of the German Eagle with Star. After receiving this award, Tom Watson spent four months in Europe as the head of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). He visited the European capitals of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Rome, Belgrade, Sofia, The Hague, and Brussels, delivering his message of “World Peace through World Trade.” In recognition of his two-year leadership of the ICC, he received ten additional awards--many were from future allies in our war against fascism. This more factually-complete list puts into a non-calumnious perspective the one award that Tom Watson—singularly and quite publicly, returned to its fascist owner.
Hopefully, this list will convince the reader that Tom Watson lived his life so that they may, in turn, rightfully question those who write ill of him today.
He was a man of his times—a good man!
