Meet Your Neighbors: Al & Cheryl Watkins

If you’re out for an early morning walk in Woodgate, there’s a good chance you’ve already met Cheryl Watkins (or at least her enthusiastic three-year-old Australian Shepherd, Boomer). Since moving to 1037 Clinton Street in 1986, Al and Cheryl have become familiar faces in the neighborhood and have spent four decades making Woodgate feel like home.

Al & Cheryl Watkins, 1037 Clinton Street

Boomer isn’t Cheryl’s only four-legged companion. A lifelong animal lover, Cheryl has spent years training her dogs in agility and has even competed in local trials. Then there’s BG, the family’s 16-year-old cat, whose name has puzzled more than a few people over the years. When they adopted the cat, they couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl, so “BG” (short for “Boy/Girl”) seemed like the perfect solution. The mystery was eventually solved, but the name stuck. Every summer, BG turns even more heads after getting his annual lion cut, proving that confidence really is everything!

Although they both grew up in Ohio and have lived in Colorado and New Mexico along the way, Cheryl and Al have proudly called Texas home since 1986. They’re also die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fans, proving you can take the couple out of Ohio, but you can’t always take Ohio out of the couple.

Giving back has always been an important part of life for the Watkins family. Cheryl has served in several leadership roles with The Civic League, is a Block Captain for the Woodgate Neighborhood Association (WNA), and has lent her talents to local choirs and Toastmasters over the years. Al also volunteered with the Carrollton Police Department as a Citizen Patrol officer, helping keep an extra set of eyes on the community they love.

Before retirement, Cheryl managed projects for companies including British Telecom, Avaya, and Liberty Mutual. Her career may have taken her around the corporate world, but one of her very first jobs was delivering mail...good preparation for someone who now knows just about everyone in the neighborhood.

Al is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the Air Force. His career included owning and operating a pilot training / Flight School and maintenance shop, where he introduced countless students to the skies. One success story still makes him smile: a German exchange student he taught to fly is now a commercial pilot for Lufthansa.

Speaking of exchange students, Cheryl and Al opened their home to a couple over the years. What began as temporary stays turned into lifelong friendships, and they’re still in touch today. Their home has always been a place where visitors quickly become family.

When they’re not volunteering or planning their next adventure, Cheryl enjoys yoga, while Al can often be found keeping up with sports or adding another watch to his collection. Together,

they share a passion for international travel and another hobby that has become a backyard showpiece. Al personally designed and hand-built water garden ponds connected by a stream flowing by a gazebo at their home. They are active members of the North Texas Water Garden Society and were on the annual Pond Tour several years ago. Their backyard has become a peaceful retreat that reflects the same care and creativity they bring to everything they do.

After 40 years, Cheryl and Al aren’t just longtime residents...they’re part of what makes Woodgate feel like home. Whether they’re out walking Boomer, tending their backyard ponds, volunteering in the community, or swapping stories from their latest travels, they’re always happy to stop and visit with a neighbor.