Biographical Summary of Kirk Watson

Former Austin, Texas, Mayor Kirk Watson, 45, has been described by Texas Monthly Biz magazine as "...a man with a vision of what the community wants and the moxie to carry it out."

Watson, a lawyer, mediator and public affairs consultant, is known for his legendary unifying leadership style, which caused the Austin American-Statesman to say, . . . "Watson’s energy, intelligence and influence pushed Austin to new heights, past its parochial win-or-lose politics. He dissolved a stalemate of long duration, one many despairing observers thought would never end, between business interests and environmentalists." The Houston Chronicle endorsed Watson’s "ability to work across often acrimonious lines in a collaborative, consultative way." And the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recognized his "proven knack for forging compromise among divergent political factions."

Dr. Richard Florida of Carnegie Mellon University described Watson's work as Austin mayor in his best selling book The Rise of the Creative Class saying, "Former mayor Kirk Watson was a driving force behind a powerful and progressive strategy that aims to capitalize on the convergence of technology, talent and tolerance."
Watson is currently the Chair-elect of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and will serve as Chair beginning in January of 2005.

Watson has earned numerous endorsements, awards and recognitions. The International Downtown Association gave Watson its Individual Achievement Award, which is its highest individual recognition. This special distinction was a recognition of Watson's special and imaginative involvement in the development of Austin's downtown. The Downtown Austin Alliance also recognized Watson's unprecedented effect on Austin's downtown with its "Impact Award". Watson's commitment to the quality of life in Texas was endorsed by the Texas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects naming him an Honorary Member of the Texas Society of Architects in 1999. Watson was named "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in 2000.

Other honors include the Leadership Award from the Texas Nature Conservancy, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s first annual "Building Bridges Award," Austin Family magazine’s "Favorite Local Hero" and the Real Estate Council of Austin’s highest individual award.

First elected Austin Mayor in 1997, Watson was reelected in 2000 with a record 84 percent of the vote. During his terms of office, Forbes and Fortune named Austin the best city and best place for business in America. Texas Monthly Biz magazine named him best mayor in Texas for business. He received the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s highest award for his economic development efforts and vision. Governing Magazine recognized Austin as one of the top two cities in America for the way it was governed while Watson was mayor.

Watson also has an impressive legal background. He graduated first in his law school class at Baylor University Law School in 1981 and served as Editor-In-Chief of the Baylor Law Review. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

He was elected President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and he served on the State Bar of Texas Executive Committee from 1989-1992. In 1994, he was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas. He was named Young Baylor Lawyer of the Year in 1996 and was selected by his peers to be listed in the publication Best Lawyers in America since 1997. A founder of the Austin law firm of Watson Bishop London Brophy, P.C., he has enjoyed a broad law practice in which he has represented families, doctors, business interests and some of our state’s major universities. He is certified and recertified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

In 1991, Watson served as Chair of the Texas Air Control Board, a state agency that worked to protect and improve the state’s air quality, where once again, Watson brought together historically opposing sides. For his state agency work, Watson received the Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter, Special Service Award in 1994 and the American Lung Association of Texas Advocacy Award as an outstanding public health advocate in 1993. He was Vice-Chair of the committee that oversaw the consolidation of the Texas Air Control Board with the Texas Water Commission creating the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

Throughout his legal career, Watson has been a highly recognized speaker on a range of legal topics. He has also been a featured speaker at numerous public policy programs throughout Texas and the United States, including addressing the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as part of its program on Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, New Growth Strategies for the 21st Century Economy and the Governor’s Economic Development Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. He has also been a key speaker at international economic development programs in Canada, Spain, Brazil and Japan.

In the early 1990’s, Watson overcame cancer. He served on the original Board of Directors for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society, local chapter. The father of a juvenile diabetic, he is active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He is also involved on several boards, including KLRU (the Austin public TV. station best known for Austin City Limits), Ballet Austin, Community Partnership for the Homeless and Leadership Austin.

Born in Oklahoma City, Watson grew up in the Fort Worth area and attended public school in Saginaw, Texas. He has been married for 24 years to Liz McDaniel Watson. They have a 14-year old son, Preston, and an 8-year old son, Cooper.