William "Rags" Watkins, III

William Watkins was a student from 1947 to 1948.

There are many memorial pages and obituary sites honoring William. This excerpt shares a glimpse into his academic and professional accomplishments, "Mr. Watkins was an architect who designed buildings throughout southwest Mississippi. He was a graduate Of McComb High School and attended Millsaps College, Georgia Tech and Black Mountain College before graduating from The Tulane University School of Architecture. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe during WWII and was a Tech Sergeant in the 101st Infantry 'Yankee Division.' He opened his architectural firm in McComb in 1957 and retired in 1994. He was a member of the Mississippi State Board of Architecture, American Institute of Architects, The Boston Club of New Orleans and Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Mediator."

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed William in 2002 and the transcript is available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics: Pre-BMC education and service in Second World War – construction of Minimum House – college entertainment – marriage to Peggy Tolk-Watkins and move to San Francisco – divorce and move to New York – architecture study at Tulane University – architectural practice in McComb, Mississippi – creation of Tin Angel in Sausalito and weathervane in New York