Buz Watkins passed away last night at his home. Buz, who was 71, had fought a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer for more than a year.



Buz, along with his brother John worked with their father and company founder Bill Watkins (BW), to grow Watkins Motor Lines into the seventh largest LTL carrier in the nation in 2006, with revenues over $1 billion. Buz succeeded BW as chairman of the board in 1984, while John became the company’s president. Buz remained in that position until 2003. At that time, Buz’s son Chip became WML’s president and John became chairman of the board. Buz took on the role of board vice chairman until the FedEx acquisition in September of last year.



If anyone would like to send a condolence card to the family, please send it to:

The Watkins Family

Watkins Associated Industries

P.O. Box 8950

Lakeland, FL 33806