When he was living on skid row on 5th Street in Los Angeles – called the Nickel – Conrad Watson turned to The Salvation Army for help. Three years later, the Salvation Army hired Watson, and for the next 22 years he made a career of helping others. He began as a counselor for the Harbor Light Center, after completing its program for his own addiction problem.
On the Nickel is his memoir, which shows that recovery is possible, no matter how far down the line one finds himself.
After a transfer, Watson served at the Santa Monica Adult Rehabilitation Program as Director of Rehabilitation Services. He was then transferred back to the Harbor Light Center as Program Coordinator, and later became Director of Rehabilitation Services at the Pasadena Adult Rehabilitation Center.
He was promoted to the Adult Rehabilitation Center’s Command as Director of Rehabilitation Services for the Western Territory, responsible for 25 Adult Rehabilitation Centers in the Western Territory. He then served at the Harbor Light Center as its Executive Director and Administrator.
The Harbor Light Center has provided licensed and certified residential and outpatient alcohol and drug recovery services to substance abusers for over 50 years.
Doc Watson attended Santa Monica College and UCLA to become a drug counselor. He then attended Antioch University, receiving his teaching credential, and was a member of the faculty at Los Angeles City College for four years. In 2006, Watson retired and was encouraged to write his story.