The Visionary
Joseph J. Watts
He Will Never be Forgotten
Joseph J. Watts
The Man Behind the Dream
What makes a visionary different from an ordinary person? He is compelled by his dreams.
He lives his life in a stitched out pattern so that every fine line and every detail in his imagination comes true. A visionary has been described as: A person with unusually keen foresight; a person who sees visions; a person who has a clear mental image of a thing that he wishes to come true. The average person has dreams and those dreams may consist of a better job or a dream car or vacation but Joe Watts dreamed dreams that would change the lives of generations who would long out live him. We honor the Visionary of BHI. He will never be forgotten.
Joseph J. Watts was born in Aiken, South Carolina and raised in Augusta, Georgia. He spent his teen-age years in Bristol, PA. Joe received his secondary education in the Bristol Township School District and graduated from Delhaas High School in 1960. During 1977-1978, Joe received Construction Management Training via the Philadelphia Housing Association. During the period 1983-1984, Joe attended LaSalle University's Non-Profit Management Training.
By the time Joe was a young adult, he found himself living in an area that had the worst slums in Bucks County. Murder and riots became a common place and the housing situation had reached all time lows. This situation convinced Joe to fight for change. He committed his life to bettering the quality of life for under-privileged residents.
Joe spent his spare time lobbying for and effecting positive changes for the lower income residents of Buck County. In 1975, as Better Homes, Inc. began its housing crusade, with no administrative funding available, Joe volunteered his time and energy until 1977, when the organization finally received administrative funding for the position of Executive Director.
Joe continued his commitment to equal opportunity for lower income minorities. After 26 years, Joe continued to be the first Executive Director of Better Homes, Inc. until his passing in October of 2007. His niece Carmen Watts, immediately took the torch and has followed in his footsteps. She is just as dedicated and committed to keeping her uncle's vision alive.
Joe Watts has been described as a "man of vision who helped turn housing into homes and towns into neighborhoods." His niece Karen Ireland lovingly says about her uncle, "People just didn't come to him for housing, they also brought him their personal problems. He [was] the type of person who could not say no. He never wanted to say, 'I can't help you,' " Ireland said. "He was very dedicated to helping his community."
Mr. Watts favorite bible verse was Proverbs 11: 24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Joseph J. Watts was an example for many. The principles he lived by changed the lives of those who were in contact with him every day and it is still changing lives today. He is remembered for his courage in spite of the odds and his dream that propelled him forward.
In loving memory of Joseph J. Watts
March 12, 1942 - October 22, 2007