James Chestnut Watson, a physician who became the first African-American public health director for the city of Houston, died of renal failure. He was 75.
"He was probably the most dedicated, devoted physician to his patients that I've ever known" said longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Timothy Anderson. "He was very well respected and appreciated by his patients and by his colleagues."
Watson was born in Trenton, N.J., to Reed and Grace Ella Chestnut Watson and was the youngest of three siblings. He earned his medical degree from Howard University School of Medicine. He was the first African-American to receive medical internship at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., in 1964.
He moved to Houston in 1965 and earned his master's degree in public health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
He also served in the Armed Forces as the chief of dispensary services at Ellington Field.
Had a giving inner spirit
Watson was known by his family, friends and patients as a spiritual man with a generous personality.
"Besides being a beautiful person inside and out, he was also probably the most giving man I've ever known," his niece, Barbara Bailey said.
Bailey recalled several memories of the time she used to work at her "Uncle Jimmy's" clinic when he would see patients, regardless of their ability to pay and would often treat patients free of charge.
"Some people give when others ask, and some people give just to give. And he was the type of man who gave just to give," she said. "That was just his inner spirit."
Watson's daughter, Jamie Lynn Watson, said he was a man who believed that proper health care was a right that everyone was allowed.
"He was very proud when he was named to the board of managers of Harris County Hospital District in 1973 because it helped him to help make sure that other people were able to get health care," she said.
"And when he was appointed public health director for the city of Houston, he saw that also as an opportunity to make sure that more people were able to receive health care."
But that appointment did not come without its share of controversy and Watson believes the appointment was challenged because of her father's race.
"People fought his appointment and finally he did receive approval," she said. "And when he left, he received accolades from the City Council for a job well done."
Watson served as the director of public health from 1978 to 1980 under Mayor Jim McConn. After serving his term, he held other positions including medical director at the Harris County Sheriff's Department in 1983.
Helped provide care to all
He continued to see patients until he became ill in the months before his death.
"I'm finding it so interesting now when people come up to offer their condolences, they're saying 'Well, you know, I was a patient of your dad's for 30 years and if I never had any money, he would never charge me,' " Watson said. "He believed that everybody was entitled to health care."
Watson died on May 23. He is survived by his wife Marlene Watson, his sister, Ruby Watson Marshall, his four daughters and a stepdaughter.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 3006 Rosedale. Watson will be buried at Houston National Cemetery with full honors.
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