Donald V. Watkins is a retired trial lawyer and has worked as a journalist and entrepreneur.
Watkins, who will be the main speaker at the Juneteenth celebration in Parsons next week, has founded and managed many businesses across a variety of industries and disciplines. These businesses operate in U.S. and international marketplaces.
Watkins served as executive chairman of California- based OxyNol Solutions (formally Masada Resource Group, LLC). OxyNol Solutions is a waste-to-clean fuels technology company, according to Watkins’ biography on his website.
In 2011, Watkins co-founded Nabirm Energy Services (Pty) Ltd. (www.nabirm. com) in Windhoek, Namibia. Nabirm explores and develops oil, natural gas and uranium resources, according to Watkins’ biography.
In 2000, Watkins co-founded Alamerica Bank, a state-chartered bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
Since 2013, Watkins has published over 1,100 copyrighted articles on a range of issues of significant public interest in America and
See WATKINS, Page 2.
DONALD WATKINS
abroad.
Watkins was born in Parsons on Sept. 8, 1948, to Dr. Levi Watkins Sr., (1911-1994) and Lillian Bernice Varnado Watkins (1917–2013). He is the fifth of six children born to Levi and Lillian Watkins.
Dr. Watkins was president of Alabama State University from 1962-1981. Mrs. Watkins was an educator by training and certification.
Donald Watkins attended Southern Illinois University from 1966 to 1970.
Watkins attended the three-year law school program on a Herbert Lehman Scholarship awarded by the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City.
After graduation from law school, Watkins started his law practice in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1985, Watkins expanded his law practice into Birmingham, Alabama. He retired from the active practice of law in 2019.
Watkins will participate in the parade on Thursday, June 19, that starts in the 2100 block of Main and travels east to the Parsons Municipal Auditorium, where Watkins will speak.
