Joe Ann Watson was a former professor of Speech, Radio, and Television at The University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Watson was an early pioneer in Radio and Television as well as a pioneer in what was then largely a man's world.

She attended UT Austin from 1937 - 1942 earning her degree in Drama, while participating in a multitude of theatrical productions. During this time she became part of a company that toured the state of Texas bringing entertainment to troops and their families at various military facilities.

Ms. Watson followed her Drama degree with Masters Degree in Speech from 1943 to 1944.

>While getting her Masters Degree, Ms. Watson was hired as an Instructor of Drama. During this time she studied the still new world of radio and, especially, television working with collaborators at several other universities and visiting major broadcast studios such as NBC in New York City. As a result of this early research, Joe Ann created the first courses in Radio and Television that became the basis for the founding of the highly regarded UT Austin College of Communications.

In 1949 Joe Ann was appointed Assistant Professor at UT Austin in Radio and Television Broadcasting. This appointment was a rare feat for any woman of that era.

Ms. Watson left UT Austin in 1952 for Houston where she established a new home. But, it was not long before her skills found a new outlet. In 1955 she began successfully coaching individuals who were required to read the Bible aloud and has continued this practice until today.

In 1984 Joe Ann returned to Austin and opened Professionally Speaking, a speech consulting studio. She continued her Bible coaching, but the business specialized in teaching communications. Ms. Watson has helped many individuals in the Austin community, including broadcasters, actors and actresses, businessmen and women, and others who simply sought to improve their public speaking.

Joe Ann Watson passed on August 9, 2005. She was the dearest of friends and the best of collaborators. Nothing meant more to her than her beautiful productions.