Watson C. Arnold Sr.

Watson Caufield Arnold Sr. passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at a local hospital. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at First Presbyterian Church, 11th and Austin Avenue with the Rev. Jimmie Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Harris Creek Cemetery. A native of Waco, Texas, Watson was born Dec. 24, 1918, at Providence Hospital to Elizabeth Caufield Arnold and Bion J. Arnold. He attended Baylor University, earning his law degree in 1941. On Sept. 19, 1942, he married Mary Rebecca Maxwell in Waco, Texas. He began his private practice in McGregor, Texas, where he was appointed City Attorney. Later, he was elected Judge of the Fifth Justice Precinct in McLennan County. Resigning his judgeship and joining the U.S. Army in 1942, he served in both the United States and in the European Theater as Assistant Judge Advocate General. His division took the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany. As a member of the Judge Advocate General's Department, Watson collected the evidence from this camp that was later used in the Nuremburg War trials. After five years in the Army, he returned to Waco and entered private practice. Appointed Assistant District Attorney of McLennan County, he served in this capacity for five years before resigning and re-entering private practice. In 1960, then Texas Attorney General Will Wilson appointed him Assistant Attorney General of Texas. Watson served under Texas Attorney Generals Grover Sellers, Will Wilson, Waggoner Carr, Crawford Martin, John Hill, Mark White and Jim Mattox. He retired from the Attorney General's Office in 1987 and later joined the law firm of Johnson and Gibbs in Austin, from which he resigned in 1991. The Arnolds returned to Waco in 1993. After retirement, Watson spent much of his time at his ranch near McGregor. Watson was one of the founders and served as first President of the Waco McLennan County Junior Bar association. He was also a former Deacon and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco. He was a member of the Waco Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a charter member of the Caufield Land and Cattle Company which included his ranch near McGregor. He authored several publications, including Use of Federal Injunctive Processes To Challenge Eminent Domain, published in 1971 by the Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas, Texas; Attorney General's Condemnation Manual, published by the Texas Highway Department in 1968 and Liability and Damages for Highway Drainage Problems, a paper published in 1982 by the American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rebecca Maxwell Arnold. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Watson C. Arnold of Fort Worth and wife, Tricia Barr Arnold; William M. Arnold of Clifton, Va. and wife, Karen Axtel Arnold; Patrick M. Arnold of Dallas and wife, Eileen Wongvalle Arnold and Henry M. Arnold of Dallas and wife, Suzy Klatt Arnold; nine grandchildren and his beloved friend, Lucy Taylor. Pallbearers will be Spencer Brown Sr., W. Lacy Clifton, Dudley Fowler, Jim Lemaster, Robert McHaney, Goodhue Smith, Thomas Stribling and Rhett Taylor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to the First Presbyterian Church, the J.M. "Henry" Klatt Scholarship Fund at Baylor University or a charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memorial in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.willkirsonhatchbailey.com. Dec. 24, 1918 - Dec. 14, 2005