Hall of Fame
Bob Watson has literally grown up on the SRU campus -- his forefathers were among the founding members of Slippery Rock State Normal School in the late 1890s - and around Rock athletics. His father, the late John Watson, was inducted into the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
Watson lettered three seasons, was team MVP in 1969 and the 1970 team captain in tennis at The Rock. He was also a two-year member of the men's soccer team and played on the freshmen golf team in his first year of college.
After two years as a tennis instructor in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, Watson returned to Slippery Rock in 1973 and began a 34-year career as an SRU staff member. He retired in March 2006 as Vice President for Student Life, the administrative position that oversees the operation of The Rock athletic program.
Throughout his professional career, Watson was a vital part of Slippery Rock University and community activities.
Among his endeavors was the creation of the Slippery Rock University junior tennis tournament and Butler-Mercer County Tennis League. He served as co-founder and co-director of both organizations, sharing duties with 2003 SRU Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Jim McFarland.
He received the SRU Alumni Association's "Outstanding Alumnus of the Year" award in 1983 and, in 1991, was named as the recipient of the "Outstanding State System of Higher Education University Award" from the Pennsylvania Council of Alumni Associations.
Watson also served from 1995-2003 as a member of the Slippery Rock Area School District board.
Born in New Castle, Watson now resides in Slippery Rock Township.
