STATE COLLEGE — Alyssa Boob will graduate in May from Penn State — an achievement of note for anyone.
But her graduation carries the distinction of being the sixth generation of Penn State graduates in her family. The graduates from 1890 and beyond have achieved success in many fields.
Scott Vogt explained the relationships because of genealogy work he had already completed.
Vogt is the son of Nancy Watts Vogt and grandson of Curtis Watts. Ralph Levi Watts, the first-generation graduate, was born in Kerrmoor, Clearfield County, on June 5, 1869. He earned a BS in 1890 and an MS in 1898 and later joined the Penn State faculty, serving as professor of horticulture in 1908. Watts held the title of dean of agriculture from 1912 to 1938.
A son of Ralph, Gilbert S. Watts, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., on Dec. 14, 1896, and graduated from Penn State in 1918. As a master farmer in Bellwood, he worked with black Angus cattle and became known as a world-renowned expert.
Curtis Watts, son of Ralph Watts, was also born in Knoxville, on April 10, 1899. After graduating from Penn State in 1921 with an education degree, he spent his life as a teacher. The younger Watts took the head teacher job at Gregg Township vocational school in Spring Mills from 1926 to 1952. He ended his career as superintendent of the Penns Valley Area School District from 1953 to 1966.
A sister, Grace Watts, arrived on Sept. 10, 1903, in Scalp Level, Cambria County. She also chose Penn State as her college and graduated in 1924. Grace Watts married Don Bell and lived in Wooster, Ohio, the rest of her life.
Two daughters of Gilbert Watts — Marjorie and Betty — are members of the third generation of the Watts family graduates. Marjorie Watts Dixon graduated from Penn State in 1942 with a degree in education. In 1950, Betty Watts Jacobus earned her degree in education also. The girls weren’t the only third-generation young people to earn PSU degrees.
Jean Watts Shook, a daughter of Curtis Watts, earned her degree in education in 1944 and became a teacher in the Penns Valley Area School District and Cumberland Valley schools.
Curtis Watts’ son, Ralph F. Watts, after graduating with a degree in dairy science in 1950 from Penn State, lived in Hershey. He served as general manager of Harrisburg Dairies for many years.
The already referenced Nancy Watts Vogt, is the daughter of Curtis M. Watts.
Going onto the fourth generation, you will find Brian Dixon, son of Marjorie Watts Dixon, and Kathy Dixon, daughter of Marjorie Watts Dixon.
Robert Jacobus graduated from Penn State in 1970 and is the son of Betty Watts Jacobus. Ronald Jacobus, also a son of Betty Watts Jacobus, graduated from PSU in 1974.
Sue Vogt, daughter of Nancy Watts Vogt, graduated from Penn State in 1977 with a music degree and another in elementary education in 1978. She taught students in the Penns Valley Area School District and Arizona. She currently lives in Centre Hall.
Virginia Watts Pina, from Wayne, is the daughter of Ralph F. Watts and graduated from Penn State in 1984 with an accounting degree and earned her law degree from Dickinson Law School.
The fifth generation of Watts’ descendants includes Angela Vogt Auman, granddaughter of Nancy Watts Vogt and Lauren Vogt-Boob.
Angela graduated from PSU in 1997 with a degree in kinesiology and became a physician’s assistant. She lives in Centre Hall.
Lauren Vogt-Boob was a 1998 graduate with degrees in mathematics and education. She lives in Centre Hall and teaches math at State College Area High School. The third member of the fifth generation is Neil Shook, grandson of Jean Watts Shook and son of Terry Shook. Neil enjoyed being a PSU Blue Band member from 2013 to 2017 and graduated in 2018 with degrees in German and math.
In May, Alyssa Boob will become the sixth generation from one family lineage to graduate from The Pennsylvania State University. The daughter of Lauren Vogt-Boob, of Centre Hall, and Nathan Boob, of Mechanicsburg, she will receive a degree in psychology with a minor in biology. She plans to attend law school in the fall of 2022. She is the great-granddaughter of Nancy Watts Vogt.
