Austin Founder Lions Club

State Senator Kirk Watson

  • 08 Sep 2016
  • 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
  • The High Road, 700 Dawson Rd, Austin TX 78704

Registration

State Senator Kirk Watson

Musings on Politics, the Texas Legislature, and Favorite Bratwurst Recipes

September 8, 2016


State Senator Kirk Watson

introduced by Lion Mac Ragsdale

Kirk Watson is State Senator for District 14. He is a lawyer and former Austin Mayor. In addition, he is former Chair of both the Texas Advisory Board for Environmental Defense and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Senator Watson has been recognized repeatedly for his legislative work. In 2011 and 2013, Texas Monthly magazine recognized him as honorable mention in its coverage of the state's best legislators. In 2009, he was on the magazine’s "10 Best" list, and was named its legislative “Rookie of the Year” in 2007.

He also has earned numerous other endorsements, awards and recognitions, including "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Family Magazine's "Favorite Local Hero," the "Best of Austin – Best Citizen" Reader's Choice Award from the Austin Chronicle, and the " Pro Texana – Medal of Service" from Baylor University.

Senator Watson served as chairman of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus beginning in 2011 and continued in that position through the 2015 legislative session. He serves on the Senate committees overseeing Finance, Business and Commerce, Higher Education, and Nominations. He is also a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Select Committee on Government Facilities. Senator Watson is a past chair of CAMPO, the primary transportation planning agency for Central Texas.

In 1991, Senator Watson was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to Chair the Texas Air Control Board. He was Vice-Chair of the committee that oversaw the consolidation of the Texas Air Control Board with the Texas Water Commission and creation of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, now known as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Senator Watson graduated first in his law school class at Baylor University Law School in 1981. He served as Editor-In-Chief of the Baylor Law Review and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was elected President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and was named Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas in 1994. He was named Young Baylor Lawyer of the Year in 1996 and has been selected by his peers to be listed in the publication Best Lawyers in America since 1997. He currently is a partner with the law firm Husch Blackwell, LLP.

Senator Watson 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. He and his family have been active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He has served on several boards, including KLRU, Ballet Austin, El Buen Samaritano health clinic and the Community Partnership for the Homeless.

He is married to Liz McDaniel Watson. Kirk and Liz have two adult boys – Preston, who is married and lives in Austin, and Cooper, who is a junior at Baylor University.

 

Featured Lunch Menu:
Enchiladas Mexicana with Refried Beans,
Fiesta Salad, Chips & salsa
Ice Tea & Coffee
    
Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday   

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up. Please keep this in mind if your plans shift and cancel your reservation so we can adjust the headcount.


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