W.R. ‘Bob’ Watt Jr., Texas legend and Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo icon, dies at 88

W.R. “Bob” Watt Jr., a member of a family who led the way in making the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo one of the legendary events in Texas, died Wednesday. He was 88.

Watt Jr., who had served in a variety of capacities at the Fort Worth Stock & Rodeo for over 67 years, was at his Fort Worth home when he died of natural causes.

“Bob was mentor and an inspiration to me, from my earliest days of Stock Show involvement, through my service as Chairman of the Board,” said Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Chairman Ed Bass in a Thursday email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m truly blessed to have know him as a friend and Stock Show role model. The Stock Show soared to great heights during his tenure, largely due to his skill, hard work and dedication. For more than five decades he was a big part of why this thing is legendary.”

The Watt family was just honored in January with the Bill King Award for Excellence in Agriculture during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s annual Livestock Appreciation Day Luncheon.

“Bob leaves a legacy at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo that will likely be unmatched,” said Stock Show President and General Manager Bradford S. Barnes in a Thursday news release. “His modest and humble demeanor obscured the tremendous impact he had on not just the Stock Show but the growth of the Will Rogers Memorial Center and the crucial groundwork that brought about Dickies Arena. Fort Worth, Texas has lost a great advocate and friend.”

Watt Jr., or Bob as he was known by friends, was born in Fort Worth on March 29, 1934, to Helen Wallace Watt and W.R. Watt Sr. He attended Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth and Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Watt Jr. received a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, Oklahoma, according to his obituary.

The Watt family impact started with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in 1946, when Amon Carter Sr. tapped W.R. “Billy Bob” Watt Sr. to take the reins as Stock Show president.

For 31 years, Watt Sr. helped lead construction of the iconic swine, sheep and cattle barns that are still in use today. His entertainment skills came in handy as he brought in numerous Hollywood and Nashville personalities to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

Watt Sr. died in 1977, but the Watt family stayed involved with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as Watt Jr. was named president and general manager in 1978. He had been board secretary and general manager since 1973.

Watt Jr. had began part-time work between college semesters in 1955 and was elected to the organization’s board of directors in 1958, remaining on the governing body for 64 years.

He served in various Stock Show superintendent roles before being named assistant to the livestock show and horse show managers in 1963.

Watt Jr. was critical in the growth and improvements at the Stock Show’s home — the Will Rogers Memorial Center, which led to Fort Worth’s emergence as the nation’s premier location for livestock and equestrian competitions, according to the Fort Worth Business Press.

The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s exploded for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as competitions and scholarships expanded such as the calf scramble and opportunities rose for Texas 4-H and FFA members to compete for scholarship awards. Watt Jr’s son, Trey, served as assistant general manager for several years.

Watt Jr. helped to bring in fresh additions to the rodeo, such as the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo, Best of Mexico Celebraciòn, and the Cowboys of Color Rodeo.

His leadership also brought about the largest expansion of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, in the 1980s and 1990s, which included the Burnett Building, Richardson-Bass Building, Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall, the Moncrief Building and the Will Rogers Memorial Center Ticket Office and Visitor Center.

“His consensus building skills played a key role in creating a public/private funding example for public events facilities that is admired across the nation,” according to a statement released Thursday by officials at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

During his tenure as president and general manager, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo increased from 10 to 12 to 17 and then to 23 days. Crowds of more than one million consistently attended the Stock Show annually. Participation in livestock and horse shows by exhibitors from around the nation is at 30,000 entries annually.

Watt Jr. was named president emeritus upon his retirement in 2010.

His obituary noted that he was devoted to the family’s ranch, Watt Ranch in Throckmorton County, where he oversaw the cow/calf operation for more than 50 years.

Watt Jr. also devoted time to civic service to the western industry In 1987, he created the Citizens Support Group for the Fort Worth Police Mounted Patrol, which supports the unit with horses, equipment, tack and a state-of-the-art equine boarding and training facility constructed in 2015.

According to his obituary, Watt Jr. served in these organizations: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - director; American Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association – director and president; Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association – director and honorary vice president; Texas Livestock Marketing Association – director; Texas FFA Foundation – director; Jane and John Justin Foundation – director; First Methodist Church of Fort Worth Foundation –director; Harris Methodist Hospital – board member.

Watt Jr. received these accolades: Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame – inductee; Charles Goodnight Award – recipient (along with his father); The People of Vision Award; Oklahoma State University – distinguished alumni; Texas Hereford Association Outstanding Service Award; and Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America – Distinguished Citizen Award.

He also was involved in establishing the Make-A-Wish Foundation Fort Worth/Tarrant County and he devoted considerable time and resources to the foundation’s North Texas Chapter.

Watt Jr. is survived by his wife, Jerri Anne Watt; daughter, Susan Watt; stepson, Mike McCrary and wife Erica; brother, Tom Watt and wife Betty; grandchildren, W.R. Watt IV and wife Mary Margaret, Callie A. Watt, Weston Wills, Walton Wills, Watt Wills, Davis McCrary, Sienna McCrary; great-granddaughter, Georgia Watt; and nephews, Mike Watt and wife Laura as well as Rob Watt and wife, Peggy. He was preceded in death by his parents, W.R. Watt and Helen Wallace Watt; and son W.R. “Trey” Watt III.

Pallbearers for the memorial service honoring W.R. Bob Watt Jr. include: Watt Wills; Walton Wills; Weston Wills; Davis McCrary; Billy Bob Watt; and Reese Watt. Honorary pallbearers include Bill Anderson; Brad Barnes; Ed Bass; Matt Brockman; Jim Gay; Charlie Geren; Charles Lasater; Mike Sands; Bob Tallman; Roy Topham; and J.R. Williams.

The family asks that memorials in Watt Jr’s memory be made to: Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Calf Scramble Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 150, Fort Worth, Texas, 76101-0150; or Make-A-Wish Southwest Region, 4541 Bellaire Dr. South, Suite 102, Fort Worth, Texas, 76109.

The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, 800 W. 5th St.. Reception to follow in the Amon G. Carter Exhibits Hall’s Roundup In at 1:30 p.m. Private internment.

Visitation will be held at Thompson’s Harveson & Cole Funeral Home, 4350 River Oaks Blvd., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.