Ronald D. Watkins (1965)
Entrepreneur / Councilman / Philanthropist
Class of 1965 | Inducted 2023
Ronny Watkins was born and raised in Corsicana. He graduated from Corsicana High School
in 1963, and from Navarro College in 1965, where he was a chemistry
teaching assistant. He studied engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.
A self-made businessman, Ronny managed Watkins Construction Company; then he
established Watkins Development. He still maintains an investment corporation he started
37 years ago. Ronny is innovative and has helped find ways to develop and
build the area economically. His company was the developer and builder for many area
roads and homes built during the 1980s and he has been a champion for hard-working
people in the community for many years. Later, his company helped to grow commercial
building space, which helped attract and retain businesses in Corsicana. He has served
as a Corsicana City Council member, Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Foundation Board,
the Community Development Board, Navarro’s Small Business Development Board, the City
National Bank Board, and the Advisory Board of InterFirst Bank. Ronny has supported
Navarro’s scholarship programs, and assists students directly at other Universities.
Ronny retired and sold his company to long-time employees in 2015. He loves spending
time enjoying nature with his wife, Barbara, gardening, working the farms, fishing,
hunting, traveling, and doing community service work.