William Ward Watkin

William Ward Watkin (January 21, 1886 – June 24, 1952) was an architect primarily practicing in Houston, Texas. He was the founder of the Architecture Department of Rice University in 1912, and remained on the Rice faculty until his death. Concurrently, he also designed a number of important projects, mostly in the Houston area.

In addition to his duties at Rice, Watkin designed a large number of structures, many of which are architecturally significant.

Early life Watkin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 21, 1886. His parents were Fred Ward and Mary Mathilda (née Hancock) Watkin. The family moved to Danville, Pennsylvania, where young William graduated from Danville High School in 1903. He entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied architecture with Paul Philippe Cret and earned a B.S. degree in architecture in 1908. After graduating, he spent a year in Europe. The initial complement of structures included the Administration Building (now named Lovett Hall), a power plant and Mechanical Laboratory, and one dormitory with a dining hall, located on , two miles southwest of downtown on an unpaved Main Street. The cornerstone of the Administration Building was laid in 1911.

Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson sent Watkin to Houston to work on plans for the Rice Institute (now named Rice University), and he was the firm's representative supervisor there.

Academic career Edgar Odell Lovett, the President of Rice Institute, offered Watkin a faculty position in architectural engineering when the Institute opened in 1912. Watkin was promoted to assistant professor in 1915 and full professor in 1922.

In 1927, he became a full professor and maintained that rank until his death in 1952.

Watkin later became the head of the architecture department, a position he held until his death.

Personal life Watkin married Annie Ray Townsend in 1914. They had three children, two daughters and a son. His first wife died in 1928. His second wife was Josephine Cockerel, who died in 1987.

Watkin was a member of the Houston Country Club, the Philosophical Society of Texas, Trinity Episcopal Church (Houston), and the Rice Institute Faculty Club.

Death and legacy He died and was interred at Forest Park Cemetery in Houston.

Watkin established a traveling architectural fellowship in 1928, which enabled one student per year to travel abroad while studying architecture. The fellowship was renamed for its founder in 1953 and is now the William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship.