In 1916, Woody was born to Dock Milton and Minnie Belle Watkins in Cottondale, Alabama. By 1929, Woody was working with Dock for Drane Tank Company in Holdenville, Oklahoma of which Dock was the branch manager. Over the next 11 years, Dock and Woody worked for Drane Tank Company in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In 1940, Frank and Hugh Drane sold their company to BS&B (Black, Sivalls & Bryson). Dock stayed on with BS&B as a branch manager and Woody worked as a tank crew foreman.
During W.W.II, 1942-43, Dock and Woody traveled to Africa with Williams Brothers Contractors. They worked as contract hands for the U.S. Corps of Engineers building
bolted steel storage tanks for fuel and ammunition storage. Upon returning to the States, they resumed their positions with BS&B.
In 1958, Woody formed M & W Tank Construction Company. Dock continued to work closely with Woody. They first sub-contracted tank erection to BS&B. Over the next 25 years, M & W Tank sub-contracted to other tank manufacturers. Woody incorporated M & W Tank Construction Company in 1977.
In 1981, he semi-retired and his grandson, Troy Milton Watkins began the process of taking over the business. In January 1983, Woody began the process of selling the business to Troy, the sale was completed on April 11, 1983.