Mayor, city council appoints Watson city judge

Ida Jo Watson, a longtime Munday resident, was appointed Munday Municipal Judge by the Munday City Council at last Thursday’s called meeting. Watson will replace Judge Bunny Norville, who is stepping down to devote more time to being mayor.


Ida Jo has been secretary at the Munday Chamber of Commerce for the past two years. She is no stranger to Munday merchants and citizens.

She was born and raised right here in Munday, attended Munday schools and raised three children here. Her mother was Melvina Thomas Spells and stepfather was Horace Spells. Her father was Clarence Stinnett.

Ida married Robert Watson, formerly of Knox City, six years ago. They are Munday residents today.

Ida Jo’s children were Frankie, Gwen (Swearengine) and Anthony, who were all active athletes during their high school years. Frankie and Anthony both played on the Mogul football and basketball teams that won state in 1984. The same year they teamed with the Thompson boys to win the state mile relay championship. That team set a state record that still stands today. Gwen played basketball for the Mogulettes and also ran on the mile relay team that won state.

When Ida Jo wasn’t running to ball games or track meets she was working. She worked 16 years at the Russell Newman Sewing Factory in Seymour. Then she headed south to Stamford where she worked for Walmart until she retired. She is only 59.

Ida Jo attends West Beulah Community Church in Munday, where she is the assistant pastor. The church ordained her to preach the Gospel last year. She said the children at the church affectionately refer to her as, “the church lady.”

Watson said she would like to see the people of Munday communicate more with each other so there would be more understanding among us. She will endeavor to listen to everyone who will come to the court room and make fair and just decisions. “I will treat everyone the same,” she said, “friends and relatives will be treated like everyone else.”

She is serious when she says, “I will give give 100 percent to the job.”