Arizona Western College Foundation

AWC Baseball Alumni Unveil Jack Watson Scholarship

Jan 19, 2008 -- AWC Baseball Alumni unveil Jack Watson Scholarship
Jim Howell
Jan. 19th, 2008

Members of original AWC Baseball team make announcement prior to ’08 AWC Alumni Baseball game

Yuma, Arizona – January 19, 2008 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that an endowment scholarship has been formed in the name of Jack Watson, AWC’s first-ever baseball coach and former athletic director. The scholarship is designed to help a different deserving AWC Baseball student-athlete get the best possible education that they can annually. The announcement was made by original members of AWC’s first baseball recruiting class from 1965 and 1966 prior to the start of today’s AWC Alumni Baseball Game at Kammann Field.

Watson first came to AWC in 1964 as a professor and head baseball coach, then added the title of AWC Athletic Director to his resume’ the next year. Under Jack’s direction, the AWC athletic programs flourished, especially the football team, which went to six straight bowl games, and won the National Championship in 1972. Jack stayed at the helm of the baseball team and the athletic department until 1975. Watson returned four years ago to help current AWC Head Baseball Coach John Stratton with the program as an assistant. The idea to honor Watson was originally hatched this fall by Greg Free, who was a starting 2nd baseman under Watson in 1965 and 1966, later moving on to Kansas State at Emporia before becoming very successful in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. Free enlisted the help of former AWC teammates Luis Barajas (who played for AWC in 1966 and 1967, went on to the University of Arizona, was the AWC Director of Financial Aid for many years, and is the current AWC Director of Construction Trades); Gary Pullins (who played at AWC in ’66 before moving on to BYU and the Dodgers’ organization; later coached BYU Baseball for 20 years and was inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame in October); and Bob Schmitt (played at AWC in ’65 and ’66 before moving on to graduate from ASU Law School; currently a successful attorney with offices in Yuma and Prescott and a past president of the Arizona State Bar Association). The four Matador alums arduously called past teammates and AWC Baseball greats of the past over the past few months to drum up support for the idea, and the response was overwhelming. “We felt that there needed to be something tied to this college that would have his name on it,” remarked Free Friday night as he unveiled the idea to the contingent of 50 people attending the Diamond Classics Reunion Alumni Reception. “The things that Coach Watson did to make all of us better players and better people are just immeasurable. This is something that will continue to reflect the difference he’s made in this college and all of us.” Watson was unaware of the scholarship prior to Friday night’s announcement, and was visibly moved by the gesture as Free, Pullins and Schmitt spoke to the crowd.

The scholarship is expected to grow to $100,000 by the time it is awarded for the first time. The scholarship will be awarded sometime this spring through the AWC Foundation (whose mission it is to advance superior higher educational opportunities and services for our growing number of constituents by supplementing additional funding sources for AWC) to one deserving member of the AWC Baseball program each year. The recipient will be chosen by the AWC Baseball coaching staff. Those who would like to contribute to the Jack Watson Scholarship can send a tax-deductible donation to:
AWC Foundation
Attn.: Jack Watson Scholarship
281 W. 24th Street, Suite 132
Yuma, AZ 85365

The following pictures are available for download with this article:

AWC Foundation Board President David Egeberg and AWC Foundation Executive Director Ruth Kuntzelman receive check from AWC Baseball Alumni.