Robert Blake Watson[1] (December 14, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an administrator at Harvard University who served as the dean of students from 1958 to 1970 and athletic director from 1970 to 1978.
After giving his life jacket to another crew member, Watson clung to a piece of wood for five hours in the waters of the North Atlantic until another warship rescued him and the other 56 survivors.
[7] On January 12, 1970, it was announced that Watson would succeed Adolph Samborski as Harvard's athletic director on August 31, 1970.
[7] He was succeeded as dean of students by Archie Epps, who was the first African American to hold the job.
[11] On January 31, 1943, Watson married figure skater Polly Blodgett at the Portland Country Club.