James K. Watkins
Encyclopedia
James Keir Watkins was an American
attorney and police commissioner. He played college football
for the University of Michigan
from 1905 to 1909. He later became a leading attorney in Detroit and served as commissioner of the Detroit Police Department
in the early 1930s. He also organized the Detroit branch of "The Volunteers" in 1936 "to save their country from a perpetuation of the New Deal
."
. He attended Ann Arbor High School and next enrolled at the University of Michigan
. He played at the tackle, fullback and center positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
team from 1905 to 1909. He won a Rhodes Scholarship
to study at the University of Oxford
in 1909. Watkins later received a law degree from Detroit College of Law and began practicing law in Detroit. He also regularly returned to Ann Arbor to serve as an assistant coach to the football team under head coach Fielding H. Yost. During World War I
, he served in the U.S. Army and attended the first training camp at Fort Sheridan. After the war, he became "one of Detroit's most respected attorneys."
appointed Watkins as the commissioner of police. Watkins had never held public office. He knew nothing about police work, but reportedly brought "character, courage, and good judgment" to the job. The Journal of the American Judicature Society wrote that Watkins developed a police force "unequaled in any other large city." Shortly after his appointment, the federal government took over two established Detroit banks, the Guardian National Bank of Commerce and the First National Bank, and established a new National Bank of Detroit
. On the night after the creation of the new bank, Watkins went on the radio "to accuse the government of having 'played into the hand of the Wall Streeters.'" After Watkins radio talk, over 10,000 telegrams were sent to Washington. Watkins tenure as police commissioner was a time of street protests and labor unrest. In November 1931, the Communist candidate for mayor and the Unemployed Councils conducted a large demonstration in downtown Detroit. When police used clubs and tear gas to move the demonstrators away from City Hall, Watkins came under criticism. Watkins again was the subject of press attention after he sent a contingent of Detroit police officers to support the Dearborn police during the March 1932 Ford Hunger March
, in which four workers were shot to death. Watkins explained that, upon learning that a riot was taking place, he dispatched his officers to the scene, but noted that the trouble was "pretty much over" by the time the Detroit officers arrived.
-Knox
movement, no matter what his party affiliations, but who is an American citizen who wants to see the American form of constitutional government continued is invited to join The Volunteers."
Watkins also served as president of the Detroit community fund, a coordinating agency for the city's charities, which raised $2 million per year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and police commissioner. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1905 to 1909. He later became a leading attorney in Detroit and served as commissioner of the Detroit Police Department
Detroit Police Department
The Detroit Police Department , established in 1865, is responsible for the city of Detroit, Michigan.-History:The Detroit Police Department was established in 1865 to serve the city's growing population and covers the city with 5 districts and two precincts. The Detroit Police Department was also...
in the early 1930s. He also organized the Detroit branch of "The Volunteers" in 1936 "to save their country from a perpetuation of the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
."
Early years
Watkins was born in 1887. He was the son of the Rev. Amos Watkins of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Bay City, MichiganBay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
. He attended Ann Arbor High School and next enrolled at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He played at the tackle, fullback and center positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team from 1905 to 1909. He won a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to study at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1909. Watkins later received a law degree from Detroit College of Law and began practicing law in Detroit. He also regularly returned to Ann Arbor to serve as an assistant coach to the football team under head coach Fielding H. Yost. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in the U.S. Army and attended the first training camp at Fort Sheridan. After the war, he became "one of Detroit's most respected attorneys."
Detroit Police Commissioner
In January 1931, Detroit Mayor Frank MurphyFrank Murphy
William Francis Murphy was a politician and jurist from Michigan. He served as First Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Eastern Michigan District , Recorder's Court Judge, Detroit . Mayor of Detroit , the last Governor-General of the Philippines , U.S...
appointed Watkins as the commissioner of police. Watkins had never held public office. He knew nothing about police work, but reportedly brought "character, courage, and good judgment" to the job. The Journal of the American Judicature Society wrote that Watkins developed a police force "unequaled in any other large city." Shortly after his appointment, the federal government took over two established Detroit banks, the Guardian National Bank of Commerce and the First National Bank, and established a new National Bank of Detroit
National Bank of Detroit
The National Bank of Detroit , later renamed NBD Bank, was a bank that operated mostly in the Midwestern United States. Following its merger with First National Bank of Chicago, the bank was ultimately acquired and merged into Bank One, at which point the NBD name was discontinued...
. On the night after the creation of the new bank, Watkins went on the radio "to accuse the government of having 'played into the hand of the Wall Streeters.'" After Watkins radio talk, over 10,000 telegrams were sent to Washington. Watkins tenure as police commissioner was a time of street protests and labor unrest. In November 1931, the Communist candidate for mayor and the Unemployed Councils conducted a large demonstration in downtown Detroit. When police used clubs and tear gas to move the demonstrators away from City Hall, Watkins came under criticism. Watkins again was the subject of press attention after he sent a contingent of Detroit police officers to support the Dearborn police during the March 1932 Ford Hunger March
Ford Hunger March
The Ford Hunger March was a demonstration of unemployed workers starting in Detroit and ending in Dearborn, Michigan, that took place on March 7, 1932. The march resulted in four workers being shot to death by the Dearborn Police Department and security guards employed by the Ford Motor Company....
, in which four workers were shot to death. Watkins explained that, upon learning that a riot was taking place, he dispatched his officers to the scene, but noted that the trouble was "pretty much over" by the time the Detroit officers arrived.
Later years
In September 1936, Watkins, by then the former police commissioner, organized a Detroit unit of an organization called The Volunteers "to provide citizens of Michigan with an opportunity to save their country from a perpetuation of the New Deal." Watkins organization received support from Senator Arthur Vandenberg. Watkins explained, "Any one interested in the LandonAlf Landon
Alfred Mossman "Alf" Landon was an American Republican politician, who served as the 26th Governor of Kansas from 1933–1937. He was best known for being the Republican Party's nominee for President of the United States, defeated in a landslide by Franklin D...
-Knox
Frank Knox
-External links:...
movement, no matter what his party affiliations, but who is an American citizen who wants to see the American form of constitutional government continued is invited to join The Volunteers."
Watkins also served as president of the Detroit community fund, a coordinating agency for the city's charities, which raised $2 million per year.