James Ray Watson

Background

Watson, James Ray was born on December 6, 1935 in Anniston, Alabama, United States. Son of James Ray and Mary Garrity (Profumo) Watson.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Auburn U., 1957; Master of Science in Agronomy, Auburn U., 1960; Doctor of Philosophy in Botany, Iowa State University, 1963.

Career

Research assistant department agronomy, Auburn (Alabama) U., 1958-1960; research assistant department botany, Iowa State University, Ames, 1960-1961; teaching assistant department botany, Iowa State University, Ames, 1961-1963; assistant professor department botany, Mississippi State University, Mississipi State, 1963-1968; associate professor department botany, Mississippi State University, Mississipi State, 1968-1977; head department botany, Mississippi State University, Mississipi State, 1975-1978; professor department botany, Mississippi State University, Mississipi State, 1977-1978; professor department biological science, Mississippi State University, Mississipi State, since 1978. Participant Smithsonians Summer Institute Systematics, Washington, 1968. Visiting scholar University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1964-1965.

Achievements

• James Ray Watson has been listed as a noteworthy Education educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member The Nature Conservancy. With United States Army, 1957-1958. Member Natural Areas Association, Botanical Society American (paleobot. section), Mississippi Native Plant Society, Sigma Xi, Xi Sigma Pi.

Interests

• Avocation: pocket watch collector.

Connections

Married Shirley Jean Lesesne, 1960 (divorced 1972). Children: Laura Catherine, Gregory Andrew, JenniferAnn. Married Louise Edmonds, 1973.

Father:

James Ray Watson

Mother:

Mary Garrity (Profumo) Watson

Spouse:

Louise Edmonds

Spouse:

Shirley Jean Lesesne

child:

Gregory Andrew Watson

child:

JenniferAnn Watson

child:

Laura Catherine Watson