Thursday, December 15, 2011

Nowlin Watson, M.D. (1878-1955)

Dr. Nowlin Watson of Clarksville, Texas, physician for 54 years, died in a local hospital on June 8, 1955, of hypertensive heart disease.  He was born in Clarksville January 24, 1878, the son of John Watson and Myra Nowlin Watson.  After attending public schools in Clarksville, he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine in Louisville.  When the Spanish-American War broke out, he left his class to join the Army and was assigned to a hospital unit in Jacksonville, Florida.  He was later ordered to Savannah, Georgia and received his discharge there.  He returned to his medical studies and was graduated in 1901.

Dr. Watson practiced in Clarksville from the time of his graduation until the time of his death.  He was a member of the Texas and American Medical Associations through the Red River County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1947 and 1948.  He was also the city health officer of Clarksville for 41 years.  In this capacity, he pioneered in combating malaria, and through his efforts, Clarksville became known as the "mosquito-free city".  In recognition of his work, the citizens of his town honored him with a banquet, and the Texas Public Health Association presented him a Certificate of Merit and an honorary membership in the organization.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Shrine, having been in the Masonic Order for 53 years.  He was a past president and charter member of the Clarksville chapter of Rotary International, and had a 30 year record of perfect attendance.  He served on the Exemption Board during World War I, and received the Selective Service System Medal for his service during World War II.

In 1914, Dr. Watson married Mrs. Emma Kneisley Hocker, who died in 1945.  An adopted son, Sam K. Hocker, survives, as does a sister, Mrs. F.B. Mason, both of Clarksville.

--- published in the Texas State Journal of Medicine, September 1955.  Transcriber is not a relative and has no further information regarding this family.

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