John C. Watson
John Chapman Watson, a much-respected cardiologist in Alexandria, Virginia, grew up on Mt. Regis Hill in Salem, Virginia, where he graduated from Salem High School in 1930. His wife Mary Brown Watson and daughters Cara and Mary Randolph respect him as a story teller. These tales include many about his mother, Patience Watson, summers at the family’s cabin at Bennett Springs near Salem, and the Salem days spent in the noisy old Ford. He also had stories to tell passed down by his father, Dr. Everett C. Watson, a noted tuberculosis specialist who was founder and head of the TB sanatorium on Mt. Regis Hill.
Known as “Jack” by his schoolmates, he was famous for driving a roaring old Ford to school where he belonged to the Glee Club and Latin Club, was on the Debate Team, Yearbook Staff, and a member of the Literary Society. Also Jack was a leading Boy Scout in the Salem troop that distinguished itself in competitions at state and national meets.
After high school, Jack attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, then the University of Virginia Medical School. After receiving his M.D., he interned at a big city hospital, Polyclinic, in New York City in the days when 72 hours on duty without sleep for young doctors were not uncommon.
Coming back to his roots, he became Resident Physician at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Roanoke. During World War II, Dr. Watson joined the Richmond Medical Group. With the rank of Captain, he served as an Army doctor in Italy and North Africa. And, at 82, still longs to go back to Morocco.
Practicing as an internist and cardiologist in Alexandria, Virginia, Dr. Watson contributed much to the development of the highly respected Alexandria Hospital, eventually serving as its president. A bronze plaque in his honor is located at the entrance to the Intensive Care Unit of that facility, which he was instrumental in establishing.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, in 1996 John Chapman Watson was among the charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
