Melvin L. Watt ("Mel") was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on August 26, 1945. He is a graduate of York Road High School in Charlotte. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967 with a BS degree in Business Administration and was also president of the business honors fraternity as a result of having the highest academic average in the Business School. In 1970 he received a JD degree from Yale University Law School and was a published member of the Yale Law Journal. He has been awarded honorary degrees from North Carolina A & T State University, Johnson C. Smith University and Bennett College.
Mel practiced law with the law firm formerly known as Chambers, Stein, Ferguson and Becton from 1971 to 1992. He is part owner of a 120-bed board and care facility for elderly and handicapped residents and part owner of the McDonald's Cafeteria and Hotel complex in Charlotte.
Mel was the campaign manager of Harvey Gantt's campaigns for City Council, Mayor of Charlotte and 1990 campaign for the United States Senate. Mel served one term in the North Carolina Senate (1985-86) where he was regarded as the outstanding freshman legislator and became known as "the conscience of the Senate". He did not seek a second term in the State Senate and announced that he would not consider running for elective office again until his children completed high school.
Mel is married to the former Eulada Paysour, an educator. They have two sons -- Brian and Jason, both graduates of Yale University.
Mel is a member of the Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church and a life member of the NAACP. He served as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar and has been a member of many professional, community and civic boards and organizations.
In 1992, Mel was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 12th District and became one of only two black members elected to Congress from North Carolina in this century. He serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee on which he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Mel enjoys tennis, basketball, reading and music. He has been the starting pitcher for the Democratic Baseball Team for four consecutive years in the annual Congressional Baseball Game.
