W. Dean Watkins, our year 2000 vice-presidential candidate, died 17 September 2020, of injuries sustained in a fall.  Watkins was the grandson of Aaron Watkins, Prohibition presidential candidate in 1920. 

Watkins was born in Canton, Ohio on 14 February 1931. His youth was spent there and in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he graduated from Shortridge High School in 1949. He subsequently enrolled at Butler University. Drafted into the Army in 1950, he spend two years as a radio technician, then returned to Butler. He graduated from Butler University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.

Watkins was employed in the Materials Testing Laboratory at the Naval Avionics Center for 19 years. Afterward, he worked as a design engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company. He retired from Hughes in 1993.

Watkins married Diana Jean Cox of Indianapolis in 1954. They have three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Dean and Diana celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2014.

Watkins is a member of the New Testament Baptist Church in Tucson. He serves as a substitute pianist and organist and is a song leader. His wife, Diana, coordinates activities for the deaf at the church.

Watkins' grandfather, Aaron Watkins, was the Prohibition Party's candidate for vice-president in 1908 and 1912 and its candidate for president in 1920. While researching the political activities of his grandfather, Aaron, Dean Watkins discovered that the Prohibition Party still existed. He found the Party address in a reference book, contacted Earl Dodge, and became briefly active in the organization.

W. Dean Watkins, our year 2000 vice-presidential candidate, died last September 17th, of injuries sustained in a fall.  Watkins was the grandson of Aaron Watkins, Prohibition presidential candidate in 1920. 
     While researching his grandfather, he found that the Prohibition Party still existed.  He then made contact with Earl Dodge and agreed to be our candidate.  After the 2000 election, though, he fell out with Dodge and worked with the Action! Prohibitionists Caucus to improve management of the Party. 
     Watkins was born in Canton, Ohio on 14 February 1931.  He earned a degree in Physics from Butler University and worked as an aeronautical engineer.  He spent 19 years with the Materials Testing Laboratory of the Naval Avionics Center in Indianapolis, then an additional 13 years with Hughes Aircraft in Tucson.
     He and his wife Diana were married for 66 years.  They had three children, Merrill, Vicki, and Lori.  He was an accomplished organist and over his lifetime played for services in several Baptist churches.  His ashes were returned to Bellefontaine, Ohio for burial.  
     W. Dean Watkins had an analytical mind and was a precise writer.  He was one of the Editor’s most trusted advisors.

Back to Candidates Main Page