Dr. Mike Watson, was born in Belleville, Illinois. His father served our country for over twenty years in the United States Air Force. During his father’s career the family lived in several different places, finally settling in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
From a young man, he knew that he wanted to work with animals. His first love was horses, and in fact, his original intent was to go to Veterinarian school and upon graduation, practice equine medicine. His first real job, was working for Dr. John R Broussard at the Ocean Springs Animal Hospital. It was during his tenure under Dr. Broussard that his love for veterinarian medicine grew, but his direction changed to small animal medicine.
Upon graduating from Ocean Springs High School, he applied to and was accepted into college at Auburn University. He completed his pre-requisites and was accepted into Auburn’s School of Veterinarian Medicine, where he graduated in 1982.
Initially, he returned to Ocean Springs and went into practice with Dr. Broussard. For many reasons, some personal and some professional, he decided to move to Jackson, Mississippi and go into practice. Initially, he was in practice with Dr. Jack Ross and Dr. Jim Watson (no relation) at Animal Medical Center in Jackson. In 1988, he went out on his own and opened Magnolia Animal Hospital.
One of the many joys of owning Magnolia Animal Hospital was meeting Laurie Byrd. Laurie would later become his wife and the mother of his three sons, Eric, Austin, and Joseph. Eric, his oldest, works some with his dad, and some with a local company. Austin, his middle son, is currently on active duty with the United States Army. Joseph, his youngest, is still in elementary school.
Dr. Mike, as he has been known by his clients for years, main hobby is veterinarian medicine. Other hobbies include wood working, motorcycles, baseball, and horses. Dr. Mike currently lives in the greater Jackson area with his wife, Laurie, two of his sons, four dogs, three cats, and seven horses. What he says that he does not need, is one more mouth to feed!