[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1237-E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING WAYNE WATTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2015

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of Mr. Wayne Watts, General Counsel and Senior Executive 
Vice President of AT&T. Mr. Watts served a total of 32 years at AT&T, 
starting as a rookie lawyer in the litigation department of what was 
then Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. As he enters retirement, it 
is fitting that this body honors Mr. Watts and his significant career 
that was embodied by his commitment to improving the Dallas community 
and beyond.
  Mr. Watts was born in Abilene and raised in the blue-collar Dallas 
neighborhood of Oak Cliff. He went on to receive an undergraduate 
degree from the University of Texas-Arlington, and a Juris Doctorate 
from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. 
Throughout his career, his affection for Dallas and all of its people 
only grew.
  In his role at AT&T, Mr. Watts was directly involved in negotiating 
dozens of mergers and acquisitions with a combined value of nearly $250 
billion. These negotiations saw Southwestern Bell transform from the 
smallest of the

[[Page E1238]]

Baby Bell companies into AT&T, the world's largest communications 
business.
  In addition to his professional successes, Mr. Watts was committed to 
enriching his community. He gained national fame for influencing law 
firms to hire and promote more women and minorities. He constantly 
pushed his legal staff of thousands of global lawyers to do more pro 
bono and public service work. In addition to being a member of the 
advisory boards of the SMU Dedman School of Law, the Salvation Army's 
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Command, and the Development Board at the 
University of Texas at Arlington, he serves on the board of Texas 
Access to Justice, a non-profit which provides funding for poor and 
indigent people who need legal services.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Watts' leadership has brought the business community 
and the greater community of Dallas and the United States resounding 
success. I recognize Mr. Watts as a great businessman, but more 
importantly, as a great American who devoted his career to expanding 
opportunities for others.

                          ____________________