Santa Fean sought to preserve history

An avid hunter and fisherman, a champion of historic preservation and a second-generation state Supreme Court justice, longtime Santa Fe resident John T. Watson, 99, died Friday at Kingston Residence in Santa Fe.

Along Cow and Bull creeks east of Pecos, trout will have a slightly better chance that the fly resting on the surface is not a lure. Nearby, in the fields and forests Watson explored from his old hunting cabin, wild turkey will have one less hunter on their trail.

“He fished trout in really small streams. That was his real passion. He knew most of the fish in the stream by their first name,” said his son, Alan “Mac” Watson.

John T. Watson hunted dove along the Pecos River, ducks along the Gallinas River and quail near Deming in fields he knew since he was a young boy growing up the son of attorney and former Supreme Court Justice John C. Watson. After he retired, John T. Watson fished corvina in the surf off the Sonoran coast of Mexico.

The son of an original member of the New Mexico Historical Society, John T. Watson was a founding board member of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation. His son described him as a strong friend of the School for American Research, now the School for Advanced Studies, and like his father, John T. Watson was a member of the state Historical Society.

John T. Watson inspired his son to pursue a career in historic preservation. Since 1977, “Mac” Watson has operated Watson Conserves, focusing on historic planning, preservation and education.

“That's part of what I inherited from my father, was an enjoyment of cultural sites,” “Mac” Watson said.

John T. Watson was recruited into Santa Fe's historic preservation movement by a neighbor — John Gaw Meem, widely recognized as the author of Santa Fe's architectural style and a leading proponent of the ordinances and organizations that preserve that style.

According to John T. Watson’s memoirs, Meem recruited Watson to serve on the board of directors of the Old Santa Fe Association, “Mac” Watson said. When they discovered the need for a nonprofit organization to administer tax-deductible donations for historic preservation, Meem, Watson and others founded the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.

“Mac” Watson recalled his father telling tales of an adventurer that dated back to his childhood. At age 13, a young Watson growing up in Deming climbed the highest mountain around and signaled home with a mirror. After graduating high school, he toured wilderness areas around Pecos without benefit of maps.

While his father served on the state Supreme Court, from 1925 through 1935, John T. Watson sought a law degree, graduating from Colorado University Law School in 1934. He would eventually serve about 20 months on the state's top court after being appointed in May 1969 by Republican governor David Cargo. His Republican credentials didn't earn him election the next year.

A World War II veteran, he served with the Army Transportation Corps, commanding a company of Stevedores as a captain. He retired from the 726th Anti-Aircraft Battalion of the New Mexico National Guard as a colonel.

With his wife, Jane Watson, he traveled the world, visiting archaeological sites in Peru, Egypt, Italy, Greece and India. Jane Watson died in 1984.

John T. Watson practiced with his father at the Wilson and Watson law firm, represented the state Highway Department and acted as New Mexico counsel for Molycorp's molybdenum mine near Questa. He enjoyed nearly 34 years of good health after he retired at age 65.

“He was just a very, very adventuresome guy,” “Mac” Watson said.

John T. Watson is survived by his two sons, “Mac” and John Morgan Watson of Los Angeles; his longtime caregiver and companion, Mirth Hansen; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one daughter-in-law, two granddaughters-in-law and a grandson-in-law.

A memorial gathering is planned at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, 750 Camino Lejo. The family asked that memorial donations be made to the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, 545 Canyon Road.

Contact David Collins at 986-3064 or dcollins@sfnewmexican.com.