GLENN WATSON
LA CANADA, CA-Services for Glenn Robert Watson, 93, La Cañada, CA, formerly of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. David McCann will officiate.
Mr. Watson died Sunday, December 26, 2010 at a nursing home at Azusa, California. He was born May 2, 1917 Maxwell, Oklahoma to Albert Thomas and Ethel Amelia Riddle Watson. He attended Ada schools and graduated from Ada High School, East Central State College and the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He received his law degree and was elected to Order of the Coif in 1939. After practicing law in Oklahoma for several years, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as an officer on two ships during World War II, including the destroyer, U.S.S. Eberle, in both the European and Pacific Theaters. After the war, Glenn and his wife, Dorothy, settled in Los Angeles, where he remained for the rest of his life.
In 1952, he formed a partnership with Robert G. Beverly, the Watson and Beverly Law Firm. Later, in 1954 it became the Richards, Watson, Smith and VanPetten Law Offices.
Over the years, Glenn continued to represent real estate clients as well as to handle an increasing number of litigation and appellate matters. In the mid-1950s, he represented dairymen in the contentious, controversial, and successful effort to incorporate the new City of Dairy Valley (now Cerritos). Other controversial municipal incorporations followed (including Industry, Commerce, Carson, and Rancho Palos Verdes) and this was the foundation of Glenn Watson's emerging reputation as one of the preeminent municipal lawyers in the State. He served as the first City Attorney for the City of Rosemead and City of Victorville, and at various times also served as City Attorney for the City of Seal Beach, City of South El Monte, City of Artesia. He served as City Attorney of the City of Carson for nearly 30 years.
Throughout his life, Glenn was a scholar and a legal craftsman who took great pride in his work and that of his firm. He trained generations of lawyers who to this day remember, gratefully, his lessons of care, thoroughness, honesty, and integrity. He sacrificed greatly for his clients and his firm, and was legendary for his long hours and careful writing. He retired from active practice in 2001, though he maintained an office at the firm until the end of his days. He endowed the Glenn R. Watson Centennial Chair in Law at the University of Oklahoma Law School.
He is survived by his daughter, Carol W. Lynch, son-in-law, Gregory M. Kunert, granddaughters Katie and Amy Kunert, and grandson, Jeff Kunert, all of La Cañada-Flintridge, California; by his sister, Lois, of Ada, Oklahoma; and by ten nieces and nephews throughout the country.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Doris McCoy; and three brothers, Lewis Watson, A. T. Watson, Jr., and Kenneth Watson.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Fl., Chicago, Illinois 60601 (www.alz.org).

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada