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TYRONE - It's been 41 years since Tyrone Area High School alumnus Bobby Watson perished aboard the nuclear submarine USS Scorpion, but thanks to his classmates, future generations of students will know of his sacrifice.

Along with a granite plaque that was donated by Mayes Memorial, photos, memorabilia and books about the Scorpion, which sank near the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean on May 22, 1968, will serve as a permanent memorial in the Tyrone Area High School's library. A plaque and memorabilia presentation was held Tuesday.

"Don said we should do something for Bob because he didn't get to do all the things that everyone else went on to do," said Suzanne Keefer Johnson, referring to fellow 1964 classmate Don Westley.

"It's long overdue," said Westley, who was a close friend of Watson. "I'm appreciative that all the right people came together to put this together for the family."

Peggy Zimmerman Bonsell, who spent the last nine months tracking down material for the memorial, said people have been very helpful.

"Our classmates have come together and worked together as a class," she said.

Watson is the only Class of 1964 member to die in service to his country, Bonsell said.

A pink rose bush also will be planted in the spring at the school to coincide with the anniversary of the sub's sinking, she said.

Bonsell said Watson was a well-liked classmate and described him as a very friendly guy who liked to make people laugh.

"I think he probably would have done anything for anybody," she said.

Watson's younger brother, Denny, was 16 when the Scorpion went down under mysterious circumstances. He was on hand Tuesday for the presentation and said his brother would have liked what his classmates did to remember him.

"This is really nice," Denny Watson said. "It took 41 years to get something going, but I'm glad to see it. He would appreciate it. He had some good friends in that class."

One of the momentos his classmates dusted off for Tuesday's gathering at the school was Bobby Watson's prom picture.

"I'm glad this is happening," recalled his prom date, Mary Fiore Ceprish. "He was happy-go-lucky. That's how I remember him."

Fellow classmate Bill Fink recalled Watson as unique and always hanging out at Red Gross's gas station.

"Working on cars and having a great time and enjoying life," Fink said.

Watson was like a lot of guys coming out of Tyrone who went on to serve their country in the military, and it could have been any one of those guys who lost their lives, Fink said.

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.