Louis H. Watson

Louis Henry Watson (September 27, 1906 – February 14, 1936) was a highly ranked American contract bridge player and writer who rose to prominence in the 1930s. he was considered by Ely Culbertson to be his most likely successor, but died of a sudden heart attack before his 30th birthday.

Biography

Watson was born in 1906 in New York City, the son of stockbroker and railroad executive Louis Thompson Watson (1863–1925). He was educated at Phillips Academy Andover and Columbia University. At Columbia, he played alongside fellow students Sam Fry and Oswald Jacoby.

After graduating in 1927, Watson initially began working on Wall Street but within a few years left a career in finance to play bridge full-time. His promising career was short-lived, however. He was survived by his wife and their adopted son, Louis Thompson Watson (1935–2003), and his sister.

In 2012 the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) named Watson number 52 of the 52 most influential personalities in the organization's history for his playing expertise and writings on bridge.

Bridge accomplishments

Wins

American Bridge League (ABL) National Challenge Team-of-Four Championship, Asbury Park Trophy, prior to the ACBL Spingold (1932 and 1935) Mixed Team-of-Four (1935), see Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match Cavendish Club Invitational (1933) American Whist League All American Pair (1933, 1934) All American Team-of-Four (1933, 1934) Georgia State South-eastern Sectional Team-of-Four (1931)

Runners-up

American Bridge League (ABL) Fall National Open Pairs (1931, 1932) Eastern Pair 1930 Eastern Team-of-Four 1933 National Team-of-Four 1933 Vanderbilt Trophy Team-of-Four (1933, 1935) Men's Pair (1935)

Publications 492 pp. Reprint with index (Bronx: Ishi Press, 2008). ———; Bloom, Isaac H. (1935). Culbertson System Self-Teacher. Contract Bridge Pub. (Pittsburgh). 80 pp. 333 pp. "Edited and modernized by Sam Fry." 475 pp.

Pamphlets Pocket Guide of Modern Leads (New York: Bard Bridge Bureau, 193?)