Jerry Watkins:  

Life AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION I WORKED AT STANLEY-JUDD, A DIVISION OF THE STANLEY TOOL WORKS, IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. FROM JAN., 1967 TO JULY 1, 1973, I WORKED AT VAN HEUSEN SHIRT CO., CHATTANOOGA, TN. IN JULY., 1973 I WENT TO WORK AT THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT., CHATTANOOGA, TN. AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF. I WORKED AS A PATROLMAN, PATROLMAN/INVESTIGATOR, IN CORRECTIONS, TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION/SERIOUS ACCIDENTS/FATALITIES. I FINISHED TWO COLLEGE DEGREES WHILE AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPT.------MY ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE.CRIMINAL JUSTICE; AND MY BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE/CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I HAD BURNOUT FOR ABOUT TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS, WORKING IN INSURANCE AS A SALES AGENT AND SALES MANAGER. I WENT BACK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A PARK RANGER, AND THEN CHIEF RANGER OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION, STATIONED AT CHESTER FROST PARK. I WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT TEN AND ONE HALF YRS. BRIEFLY, I WORKED IN SECURITY AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR ONE AND TWO MONTHS. IN AUGUST, 2001, I WENT TO WORK AT THE CHATT. METRO. MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AS A AIRPORT POLICEMAN. I WAS THERE ABOUT 5 YEARS, AND HAD NECESSARY BACK SURGERY. I WAS UNABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK, RECEIVING SOME NERVE DAMAGE FROM THE SURGERY. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I'M RETIRED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HAVE APPLIED TO GET DISABILITY FROM SOCIAL SECURITY. I MARRIED IN 1968 TO BETTY JEAN BRYSON, AND WE HAD THREE CHILDREM ONE BOY AND TWO GIRLS. THE BOY, SHE CARRIED HIM 8 AND ONE HALF MONTHS, AND AT THE TIME OF BIRTH HE WAS STILLBORN. IN MAY, 1975, WE HAD OUR FIRST DAUGHTER JERI HEATHER ELIZABETH WATKINS--SHE IS NOW ALMOST 32 YEARS OLD. SHE IS MARRIED TO JASON RECTOR AND BOTH WORK IN INSURANCE. THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, JAMIE RUTH MARIE WATKINS IS 27 YEARS OLD AND IS MARRIED. JAMIE WAS MISS HAMILTON COUNTY, MISS CHATTANOOGA, AND MISS SCENIC CITY. SHE WAS IN THE TOP 5 AT MISS TENNESSEE ON HER FIRST VISIT. THE SECOND TIME, SHE WAS THE FIRST RUNNER-UP WITH STEPHANIE CULBERSON AT MISS TENNESSEE. THEN, IN 2003, SHE WON MISS TENNESSEE. I WALKED HER OUT AT THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT IN SEPT., 2003 AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. I'M PROUD OF BOTH DAUGHTERS, BOTH SING. I'M DIVORCED, AND AM SINGLE. I LIVE IN SODDY-DAISY, TENN. I SING GOSPEL MUSIC AND HAVE SUNG IT FOR 56 YEARS OF MY 60 YEARS. I STARTED SINGING AT AROUND THE AGE OF 4. MY MOTHER PLAYED AN OLD SILVERTONE ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND SHE SUNG ALTO AND I SANG SOPRANO. SHE START...Expand for more