WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
LEON MILNE WATSON
(pharmacist, athlete, musician)
BIOGRAPHY
Leon Milne Watson was born in St. George on May 26, 1926.He graduated from Dixie High School where he was a star athlete and musician. He was given the Region Six Most Valuable Player basketball award in 1943.
After graduation from high school, he attended Stanford for one year before going into military service.
Watson joined the U. S. Navy where he served as a pharmacist mate.
After getting out of the Navy, he continued his studies at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy where he received his pharmacy degree in 1951.
While at the "U", Leon played as a forward on the Utes basketball team. In 1948, he was the third highest scorer in the conference helping the Utes win their conference title. That same year, he was named to the all-conference team and they won the national title at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Leon married Barbara Jane Wilson on November 27, 1947 in Salt Lake City. They continued to live there until graduation.
In 1951, the couple moved down to St. George and Leon started working with his father in the Dixie Drug business. He took over the business in 1955 and continued running it until his death in 1991.
Watson also operated a pharmacy in the Dixie Medical Plaza in the 1960s.
He was involved in many civic activities:
- Served four years on the St. George City Council
- First President of the St. George Kiwanis Club
- President of the Dixie College Colonels Club
- Organizer of the St. George Little League program
- Originator of the St. George 4th of July fireworks at the Sun Bowl
- Organized the "The Royal Ancient Non-Marching Band"
- Played in the trio, "The Combo"
- Organized and played in the "Undixieland Band" aka "4th of July Band"
- Executive Secretary to the Bishop of the St. George Third Ward
FAMILY
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Parents and Siblings:
Daniel Clark Watson Anna "Nan" Hess Milne Watson Loren "Loie" Watson Wetona "Toni" Watson Daniel "Dan" Clark Watson Leon "Lee" Milne Watson |
(xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married 9/16/1907) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (1/25/1916-4/30/2012) (married Virgil Crosby Snow) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Robert F. Edwards) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (5/24/1926-11/23/1991) (married Barbara Jane Wilson) |
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Wife and Children: Barbara Jane Wilson Watson David Leon Watson Tracy Watson Kyle Richard Watson |
(xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married 11/27/1947) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Stanley C. Winward) (9/30/1948-7/26/1979) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
PHOTOS
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WCHS-01872 Leon Milne Watson |
 WCHS-01873 Barbara Jane Wilson Watson |
Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-01871 Photo of Leon & Barbara Watson
REFERENCES
Dixie Drug Store: Businessman, pharmacist happy with lifeArticle by Helen Gardner in the Daily Spectrum
September 11, 1991
New Medical Plaza To Hold Open House
Newspaper clipping about operating a pharmacy in the Dixie Medical Plaza
Musicians of Southern Utah
Page 145 - Leon M. Watson
Page 321 - Barbara Watson
Miscellaneous articles about Leon Watson
Obituary of Leon M. Watson
Obituary of Leon M. Watson
Loss of a Loved One
By Barbara Jane Wilson Watson
Friends, family pay tribute to Leon Watson
By Wayne Eckman (Spectrum Correspondent)
November 30, 1991
Find-A-Grave entry for Leon Milne Watson
Find-A-Grave entry for Kyle Richard Watson