Harvey Wright Watkins was born May 17, 1904, in Austin, TX. He attended school there until 1918 then moved to San Antonio. His first experience with chiropractic came in 1913 when close friends of the family returned to Austin after graduating from the Palmer School of Chiropractic. From then on Chiropractic was his principle health service.
In August, 1919 his mother enrolled in the Texas Chiropractic College and in November Harvey followed. At that time Dr. McCleese was owner of the college but sold his interests in 1920 to Drs. B. F. and Flora Gurden. The transition from McCleese Universal to Gurden Palmer methods of chiropractic created an interschool conflict and there Harvey received his baptism in chiropractic politics. Differences were reconciled and he graduated January 5, 1921, to become the youngest chiropractor to ever receive a D.C. Degree from an organized chiropractic college.
During 1921 and early 1922 he practiced with his mother in Nixon, Texas. Then in the Summer of 1923 he opened an office in Stockade, but after the first of the year moved to Falfurrias where he practiced until the summer of 1931. Leaving Falfurrias to join the Educational Chiropractic Clinics, Harvey organized and held clinics throughout the mid-west and California. During the eighteen months with the clinics he sat in the offices of hundreds of chiropractors discussing their troubles and their needs with their chiropractic associations and boards. Here he learned many of the organizational pitfalls and determined to help his state and avoid them. In March, 1933 he came home to practice and to help promote two things. The first was a strong state association to protect its members and second was a governing law. Austin proved difficult but by 1936 practice had reached a point where outside interests were possible. 1932 was the year the two then existing state associations joined together and formed our present Texas State Chiropractic Association with Dr. M. B. McCoy as first president. In 1936 Dr. F. L. Charlton was made president and appointed Harvey Watkins, chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee with instructions to draw up and present one at the 1937 convention.
From the experience of fifteen years practice, the discussions with hundreds of doctors while with the clinics and the legal advice of his attorney, Mr. E. L. Bauknight, Harvey and Dr. Charlton wrote our constitution. This was adopted without change in the convention in 1937. Following the convention, at Dr. Watkins insistence, Mr E. L. Bauknight accepted the position of Executive Secretary of the newly formed state association. Mr. Bauknight was newly graduated from school and had no plan of continuing his position but for the next eight years he and Dr. Watkins toured the state, speaking, organizing and recruiting for the association. It is estimated they traveled together over one hundred thousand miles in this work. Mr. Bauknight learned to live the profession and has continued with us ever since.
Dr. Watkins was president of his district, old number three, in 1938-39-40. He was director of his district in 1941. During the above years he was a member of the Legislative Committee and many of his trips with Mr. Bauknight were related to this work. As a result of these many trips and the Legislative Organization our first law in 1941 was passed. For a number of years Dr Watkins was Editor of the State Magazine, the old Chiropractic Flash and with the permission of the Board renamed it the Texas Chiropractor.
As chairman of the committee on Public Relations he assisted in setting up our first Paid Employee and Statewide Program in that field. It was the results of this program and its success that caused the Plaque Committee to choose him as recipient of the Keeler Plaque in 1943.
Dr. Watkins has been Chairman of the Research Committee several times and is usually a member of that committee. He has written numerous articles on x-ray interpretation and delivered many papers at conventions on the subject. In the school field he has been on the Board of Trustees several times and is a Past President of the Texas Chiropractic College Alumni Association. He has contributed much to the school in both time and money. In 1960 he was awarded a Plaque in recognition of his six years teaching Advanced X-ray Interpretation to the senior class. Each year represented six trips from Houston to San Antonio and were made at his own expense.
Lay Affairs have always found Dr. Watkins busy. While in Austin he was an active member of the Country Club, Chairman of the House Committee of the Elks Club and one of its Trustees, Past Assistant Scout Master of the Boy Scouts and City Counselor for their athletes. As an active member of his church he has held many positions in Sunday School classes and has been on the Board of Deacons. He is an active member of the Timbergrove Lions Club and one of its officers. This year is his twenty first in Lionism. He bowls with the Greater Houston Lions Bowling Association, is Past President of the Local Association. He is presently President of the State Lions Bowling Association. He is a member of the Masonic Orders and a Shriner in good standing. He is Past Patron of the Eastern Star and has just received a Grand Appointment from the State Body.
Dr. Watkins' forty year record in chiropractic has been one of service to his profession. His practice which he maintains at 1245 Vale in Houston, Texas, is in keeping with the highest professional standards. He has been and continues to be an outstanding example of the professional chiropractor.
